Let Your Fingers do the Typing - Who Uses The Yellow Pages Anymore

Last night, the new Yellow Pages book was dropped off at the front door. I took it to our hallway desk, placed it on the shelf, and removed last year's copy to put into the recycling box. And then I asked myself, "self, I asked, when was the last time I used this book to get information?" The answer is long enough that I don't remember opening it. So now I wonder, do I really need to keep this current edition.

Frankly, when I need to find something, I Google it on the web. And not only to find out where a store or product or service might be found, but to seek out advice and comments from others online that may have also sought out this same information. The web has become so convenient to get this information, I forgot to even consider using the Yellow Pages directory as a reference.

And I'm not the only one. "The percentage of internet users who use search engines on a typical day has been steadily rising from about one-third of all users in 2002, to a new high of just under one-half (49%)."

The yellow Page book is very Americana. It had the brand identity as the predominant source of information. And yet they have not seemed to capitalize on their brand in the online arena. The Yellow Pages brand, owned by AT&T, exists but has not broken through the clutter to become a well known online search tool. And business does not look good.

When Idearc spun off from Verizon a couple years ago, I thought there was hope for Super Pages to enhance its identity and become the online reference point for consumers. They have not fulfilled that goal either. "Over the next five years, Borrell Associates Inc. are expecting 39% of the ad spending on print yellow pages to vanish. After 12 years as an advertising medium, the Internet has finally reached small-business owners with viable marketing opportunities in the form of keyword advertising, interactive directories and low-priced online video commercials. The recession appears to be triggering the shift."

This transition that consumers are making from print to web extends not only through the yellow pages but to all types of print material that can be better searched, sorted, refreshed, and relevant on the web than as a printed page. It seems to already have happened with the yellow pages, other types of print will follow.

Hulu in Hi Def (Why do some still want to call it Hula?)

Unfortunately not all of Hulu's content is in HD, but I'm sure that will come very soon. Why this is big news at all indicates that it must be a slow news day. Previously, they have added HD movie trailers and clips. So now they have added TV episodes and my favorite video, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. ABC has already been showing HD content on their broadband player. "And in terms of HD, Hulu, ABC, and CBS all have a leg up on Apple TV and Amazon Unbox, which don't offer any TV episodes in HD. The Xbox Video Marketplace has had HD shows for download since its launch back in fall 2006"

Still it is inevitable that all content will be shot in HD and pitched to consumers. On the receiving side of the equation, consumers are more dependent on the speed of their broadband connection, the player that is streaming the content, and the monitor that the user is watching it on. All those elements affect what the final product looks like.

The bigger news for Hulu is that they are presenting the content without their "limited commercial interruptions". And that obviously won't last for long.

Will the Network DVR Kill Tivo?

The court reversal enabling Cablevision to move ahead with a network DVR has many repercussions. For one, it will enable more homes to take advantage of the DVR capability. And while that may mean more fast forwarding through commercials, technology is already adapting to overlay ads through the various trick features. Network DVRs make this ability easier to manage and more opportunity to adapt the ad message to individual households.

It may also affect consumer purchase decisions to acquire a Tivo box; as its core feature is being replicated. For Tivo, this court reversal was probably expected; they have been working on more download opportunities using their box as an interface to the web. In addition, their superior navigation capability may be something Cablevision might want to partner with to maximize the usefulness of their network DVR device. Tivo has also embarked on an e-commerce strategy with Amazon.

Network DVRs remind me of the direction computer software is also taking. Devices, connected to the web, utilizing centralized business software and sharing data inside network drives. Devices have been dumbed down as network computing allows more sharing and easier exchange of information. It is no surprise that a network DVR approach would follow this trend.

"If the legal process -- which could potentially include taking the dispute to the Supreme Court -- were to eventually permit network DVRs, the ramifications for the TV business could be significant, noted Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Craig Moffett, who called Monday’s decision a 'huge win for cable operators.'” In the short run, Cablevision may still have to wait to proceed with the network DVR; but precedent has been set with Time Warner's Start Over and Look Back and its other network advance services. So all speed ahead with Network DVRs. It is the direction we are headed.

What's Really Killing Newspapers

Like David Carr of the New York Times, I too enjoy reading the Star Ledger to feel more connected to the area, to county and to state issues. But less people seem to need the paper anymore and the cost of lower readership and declining ad revenue means cost cuts and content reduction by laying off writers. The Sunday paper may seem full, but it is all inserts and fluff. He cites the perfect analogy: " 'It’s like a ham sandwich, it’s so thick, with lettuce, pickles and onions.'It may still look like a sandwich, but some of the meat is about to go missing." With less writers talking to its specific constituents, it becomes filler of generic syndicated content. A destructive cycle that only leads to the end of the Star Ledger.

In another article in the New York Times, the survival of the whole industry is questioned. Who would buy a newspaper today? Oddly, Cablevision just bought Newsday. Last year, News Corporation bought The Wall Street Journal. Do they know something, the rest of the world doesn't? "Despite the long-term challenges, analysts and bankers think that buyers will return to the newspaper market, though they may be outnumbered by people who decide to invest in online news start-ups instead."

The folks at Slate seem to recognize the shift away from newspapers as due to technological change. Previously, the newspaper led social change and you would seek out the stories to remain in the loop to key issues. Friends would remark, did you read the story on... Today, social networking is achieved through technological means; digital articles, emailed to friends and associates, social networks and blogs to share opinions and voice concerns, websites to promote ideas and find information. "The social networking that takes place via instant messaging, microblogging, or e-mail further steals from newspapers the mindshare they once owned. You no longer need to rely on a paper for the social currency that a weather report, movie listings, classified ads, shopping bargains, sports info, stock listings, television listings, gossip, or entertainment news provide. As falling circulation indicates, fewer do."

Can the Regional Newspaper Survive?

The Star Ledger faces not only revenue losses, but the loss of jobs and perhaps even the sale of the newspaper itself. "The Star-Ledger announced today that 200 non-unionized employees will have to take a buyout by Oct. 1. If the total is not met, the Newhouses' Advance Publications is threatening to sell the newspaper. Reporters are not unionized, according to a source close to the paper." But who wants to buy it? It's not that newspapers have no value, it's just that it's readers have stopped subscribing to get their news from other sources. And as subscription dries up and the economy deteriorates, the advertising revenue drops.

I personally enjoy the Star Ledger, for its regional and local news; but this same information is also found on the web. And so this need to cut jobs to stay solvent is not the end of the situation for the Star Ledger and other newspapers, simply the beginning of the end. The current model is no longer working; news is far easier to share through other distribution models. We are witnessing a transition from newspapers to digital media. For us newspaper readers, start ordering your Kindle.

LG's Netflix Box - Will Consumers Connect

How will consumers watch movies? Will they schedule their viewing according to their TV guide, waiting for its 9pm start? Will they prefer the cable on-demand model and navigate through various search screens to find the title they desire? Will they reach for their HD dvd that they purchased from Walmart or Target and watch on their TV or portable player? Will they purchase and download from Netflix or Amazon or Sony, to watch a movie? Purchase or rent, cable or Netflix, so many choices.

Netflix has decided to team with LG and offer a player that provides dual capabilities, Blu-ray HD dvd player and Netflix download. "New details on LG's movie-streaming tie-up with Netflix, courtesy the Wall Street Journal: In September, LG will start shipping a Blu-ray player that also supports Netflix Internet movie streams, for 'well under $500.' More good news: Buyers won't just be locked in to Netflix's (NFLX) limited streaming content -- the device will also be able to access 'other forms of programming from other sources.'" Obviously, the more flexibility, the better the value proposition for the consumer. And even more importantly, the easier it is to connect and play, the better it is for the average consumer to hook up and enjoy.

Should consumers run to replace their standard dvd player with this device? And should cable operators be worried that this device will take revenue away from their on demand model. Operators need to improve the navigation screens for on demand, as well as improving its speed and eliminating any latency issues. They need to add more titles to their library of content and enable internet content to play through the cable box. I believe it is time for all cable operators to partner with Tivo. They have a grasp on what the navigation should look like. By creating the ultimate viewing experience, customers will have no need to reach for the LG Netflix box. If they don't, this device may just be a winner.

Fifth of TV viewers watching online: survey

Why are people watching online. "It showed that 50 percent of people viewing TV on the Web are watching programs as they become available and "appear to be beginning to use the computer as a substitute for the television set," Integrated Media Measurement Inc. (IMMI), which conducted the poll, said. The other half are using the Internet to watch programs they have missed, or to re-watch segments or episodes they have already seen, IMMI, a company which links media exposure to consumer action, added." I say they are watching on the internet because these same shows are not being offered via on demand on their TV set.

The web provides much more variety than most cable operators offer. If able to watch these programs on a bigger screen, I expect that more would choose the latter. I also suspect that where consumers watch also matters. These users may not have a TV set in their office, but do have a internet connected pc for watching this content. This is a relatively new phenomenon and office productivity most likely suffers as users multiplex between watching their shows and doing their work. As companies catch on, this availability may be blocked.

The TV continues to be the primary screen to watch long form content. Content available on the web needs to also be available through on demand. Navigation needs to improve on the TV to search and select from this much larger variety of product. We have become an on demand consumer and have become less likely to wait for our shows to appear. We want it all and we want it now. Internet viewing reflects this growing appetite. On demand viewing needs to duplicate this ever growing buffet of choice.

Facebook Pulls Plug On Scrabulous

I'm sad; my favorite application on Facebook has been pulled. And while I am not a good player, I do enjoy the interaction with my "friends". I was in the middle of a few games and I expect to never finish them.

Hasbro has the right to their intellectual property and Scrabulous was absolutely a ripoff of Scrabble. But Hasbro needs to give Scrabulous their kudos for capturing new media interest and taking Scrabble to the next generation. It raised their brand and made Scrabble popular again.

"Earlier this year we heard the Agarwall brothers had been offered a substantial check from Hasbro and other companies with a claim to the Scrabble brand (there are several), but that they were holding out for more. We still think that in the end, they'll walk away with something, since they've got a wildly popular app on their hands. But the takedown certainly removes a whole lot of leverage, and makes it possible that they'll end up with zilch."

I hope they come to terms and I get my online game back again. I hate to lose, but I hate worse not playing.

The End of Cassette Tapes: I Didn't Realize They Were Still Here

Sorry to say, I can't remember the last time I used a cassette tape. Of course, the same holds true for VHS tapes too. Their replacements, the cd and the dvd, marked the end of their value. And while I still have cassettes and VHS tapes in the house, most are in boxes somewhere in the attic. The funny thing is I haven't the heart to completely rid myself of them. In my youth, I copied songs, radio stations and movies onto them. I probably have an old Dr. Demento tape from too many years ago.

As a kid, I stood by my cassette player, starting and pausing to capture songs off the radio. I created mixed tapes from my albums and played them at parties. As a teenager, I loved old time radio programs, and collected numerous cassettes of Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, and others. Today, everything is copied and burned. Need a mix, burn to cd rom. And soon, no burning, simply copying to a flash card device.

But new technology has made these tapes more about memories than function. And as the LP begat the tape, and the tape begat the cd, so too will the ipod and mp3 completely replace them. "Such was the case for the eight-track format as well, which was popular in the late 1960s and ’70s. It died relatively quickly with the advent of cassettes because eight-tracks were not widely used for personal recording or mix tape". Electronic download to the device of choice is the next generation and "books on tape" are simply a memory. Audible has been pushing the digital version for years.