Category: Technology

Beginning of the 3D Backlash?

While reading through reviews of the newly released Clash of the Titans remake, I noticed a number of reviews questioning whether it was worth seeing the movie in 3D. Most seem to be in agreement that whatever you think of the film, paying extra to see the 3D version isn’t worth it. So is this the beginning of a 3D backlash?

If there’s one thing you can guarantee about hype, it’s that too much of it can cause people to start questioning whatever it is you’re selling. There’s no question that 3D technology talk is everywhere.

The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show was dominated by television manufacturers showing off their upcoming 3D HDTVs for home use, while movie theaters seem to be filled with new 3D movies every week since the runaway success of Avatar.

I’m not quite yet convinced that 3D will completely take over our movies and televisions, however, I’m also sure that the current negative talk about 3D will not kill the format either. Right now, I think most of the backlash comes from sticker shock as it does over hyping.

Movie theaters are charging a premium on 3D movies that can add almost a third the ticket price as a regular showing. If movies that don’t live up to that cost for the premium of 3D, they’re going take the hit in their reception.

Clash of the Titans, for example, had it’s release date moved back 2 weeks because the studios wanted to convert the film into 3D late in production, and the reviews show it’s not a very effective conversion. Meanwhile, Avatar, a film designed to make use of 3D, still rakes in the money.

While 3D HDTVs currently sell for a premium, it should be noted that manufacturers are releasing that 3D in their high end models, which in many cases sold for the same amount without 3D last year.

So while home 3D will be expensive for some time, it will become affordable in the same way that HD did, and as prevalent. It’s just a matter of time.

Google Needs a Twelpforce

It’s pretty obvious that Google’s biggest strength is their technology. It seems like every month involves some new Google technology meant to strengthen the company’s position as the Internet’s information phone book. On the other hand, as the company releases more and more products, I’m starting to see a small, but growing, backlash against their weakness: customer service.

When Google’s product line consisted of “beta” products like Gmail or Google Maps, they could get away with providing very minimal customer service. Users with issues are often directed to an email address or forums for support. Now that Google is developing operating systems, like the Android platform on a growing number of smartphones such as their own Google-branded Nexus One, or the Chrome OS that they hope to have on netbooks, relying on email or forum support just isn’t going to cut it for potential buyers.

Google is absolutely going to have to invest in more traditional customer service options, such as call centers, as their product families grow. However, I also believe they’d also significantly benefit from looking at how Best Buy’s Twelpforce handles both customer service and technology questions.

As a Best Buy employee who has helped a number of people via Twelpforce, I know very well how the model allows a company to use the collective knowledge of its employees to provide help to the public on a wide range of topics related to a company’s products and services.

If there’s one thing Google is very strong in, it’s the technical knowledge of their employees. Imagine how many questions they could answer for the public by using a Twelpforce model to bring that knowledge straight to not only those asking the questions, but to anyone else who might have similar problems as well.

Google wouldn’t have to rely on only Twitter as a means to answer those incoming questions either. Best Buy has been developing a tool alongside Twelpforce, called BBYFeed, that allows for both questions and answers that won’t fit within Twitter’s 140 characters. This tool is being designed to open up future avenues for both incoming and outgoing interactions beyond Twitter.

If any company would be good at creating a way to collect those answers in a way that could be easily searched and available to answer future questions, it would be Google.

So Google, where’s your Twelpforce?

Tips to Save Your Wet Cell Phone

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There’s nothing that can ruin your holiday cheer like losing your cell phone to water damage.

Fortunately, even if you drop your mobile in your Guinness this St. Patrick’s Day, Geek Squad has some tips to help save that phone. No lucky four leaf clovers required!

I had a chance to speak with Wayne Dawson on Fox 8 News this week to demonstrate these tips that may save your cell phone.

I later provided the same tips to the Wills & Snyder show on WTAM 1100. Click below to listen:

Geek Squad Tips to Save Your Wet Cell Phone

Twelpforce Space Experiment No. 2

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One of the best parts about living in the technological age we do is how the average home computer can be used to create your own media.

I’ve been playing around with a few different “entry level” consumer video editing programs like Sony’s Vegas Movie Studio HD 9. I created the test video above using only a few photos and music, and as you can see, the results can pretty pretty stunning as you become more comfortable with the program.

With the wide availability of inexpensive HD camcorders, it’s quickly becoming a world where a little time and some creativity can really unleash your inner director.

Geek Squad Remote Support Showdown

Laptop Magazine reviewed three remote support options in a tech support showdown between Geek Squad Remote Support, iYogi and Support.com.

SPOILER ALERT – Geek Squad Remote Support came out on top:

Based on our experience, we strongly recommend Geek Squad’s tech support services. The agents were courteous, friendly, and efficient, and we were not charged for our two troubleshooting issues.