More from the Engadget Reader Meetup

I didn't win any of the prizes, but I got a shirt like this one. They had a lot of stuff to give away though. I was as thoroughly impressed as I could have been, you know, not actually winning. There were a number of cellphones for T-Mobile and Sprint (and I really, really need a new phone), 10-15 Gameboy SP's with fucking Mario Kart, a number of iPod accessories, SPOT watches w/ service, and other stuff. I'd guess there were 50+ giveaways in addition to free handouts at the door, no cover, a free drink (yes, the boozahol kind), and t-shirts; all this for less than 500 people. I hazard that more than 1/3 of people there got something in addition to a free drink. And you know what, during the raffle, 3 total people got excited enough to do more than raise their hand when their number was called. WTF?!??!?! The audience was so macho or something that they didn't even clap or cheer when someone won something really cool. The people around me, with one exception (Eric, fellow Apple alumni) were bitching about this cool, free stuff they're getting, much of it costing several hundred dollars. Seriously, Fuck those guys.

Well, I'm still happy. I got to play with the heads up display from the guy at Microvision (check my last post) and learned more about SPOT, though the monthly fee is discouraging given the direction my monetary flow. I got to talk fairly extensively with Peter Rojas, co-founder of engadget as well as gizmodo (though he is no longer affiliated with the latter). He spoke about some of the challenges of the business and mentioned that weblogs, inc., parent company of engadget and a number of other focused blogs, was purchased by AOL. This would have been really uncool except they let him retain full creative control as well as fitted him with a significant severence package should they try to oust him. I would like to talk to him further about this as I am quite interested in the subtleties of business formation. It sounds like he learned his lesson the hard way with gizmodo but got right back out there. Enough rambling, thanks Peter, if you see this, and once I have a couple of decent columns written, I'll be sure to send them your way.

Mark aka Raul the Poolboy

Engadget Reader Meetup

Geek Elitism, alive and well.

Seriously, I had a lot of fun tonight. The meetup was a chance for readers and fans of the gadget blog, Engadget, to see the face of their fellow techno-literate brethren. I was surprised I think. My most recent relevant experience, with I'm guessing over 50% overlap for attendants, was Penny Arcade's PAX expo (brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department). At PAX, I was rather surprised because going felt just like being a reader. I lurked at the site, and when I met these people in person, even when I tried to be friendly, I got a very minimal response. I can't blame those who actively chat in the forums for all knowing eachother, but I was expecting a slightly less anti-social crowd.

The Engadget meetup was much better in this regard, with special thanks going out to the guys responsible, Ryan and Peter who were really cool and friendly. I also spoke with a couple of the product people like a rep for MSN's SPOT technology who was very patient with me (thanks Sue!) and Matthew from Microvision (I really look forward to accessible HUD tech).

Also, there are already pics up from the event, though not ones that I took. The only one I managed to snap was with my crappy cam-phone, and let's face it, the 'ole T610 wants me to get a new high-paying job almost as much as I do. He *wants* to be retired for something cool like this successor.

Raul

Something for Your Bottom

Great style video for your viewing pleasure


OF NOTE:

Circa May 2004.
Music made in GarageBand.
They save the best for last.
We should do this and have all the seats arrive at a party.

Raul

del.ico.us...

IS RAD.

If you read memepool, you'll love del.ico.us.

Check out what I find interesting on the web. Once you start an account (and read the simple directions for how to use it quick and effectively), I'd love to get your username. As you've probably noticed from the link above, my username is 'raulthepoolboy'. Are we sensing a theme here?

I admit it, I'm trying to consolidate my online brand, just like this guy did when he coined (accidentally) the term "weblog" and it's obvious derivative.

Raul

What is a Morally Acceptable Corporation?

What must a company do in order to add more value to society than it destroys? I'm trying to develop some rules.
Such a company must:

1. Provide something useful that doesn't currently exist or improve upon an existing product/service
2. Charge (directly or indirectly) for the product/service
3. Actively recognize and identify the entire cost of production. The easy example is environmental pollution, but there are many potentially unforeseen externalities that a company might face. It is hard to "do no evil".

In addition to these key ideals, I believe there are additional goals that should be pursued depending on the landscape of the market in which the company competes. Some of these are required for success, some apply more to the ethical questions raised above.
When entering an existing market with either a new competing product or an improvement on existing offerings, it is important to:

4: Disrupt existing market barriers to entry (both to survive and because it damages everyone other than incumbents)
5: Shift the value and usefulness of existing market competitors without driving them out of business entirely. In a reseller market, this might mean the creation of a consulting market so they can utilize their product expertise; for manufacturers it could mean communicating so they can begin to offer useful accessory products to your own (See Griffin Tech. vs. iPod).
6: Not exist solely as a money siphoning middleman. This is redundant to #1, but bears mentioning again. In addition to ethical problems with the middleman model, such businesses face a threat from the producer and consumers to connect directly and split the profits that you otherwise consume.


Raul

Ideas I've Had

So, I was talking briefly with my father today about an idea that I'd worked to develop with a number of friends over the course of a few discussions last year. I can't remember who it was that initially suggested it (please feel free to own up in the comments), but I believe it was Sean Gill (Loafdog) bitching about trying to look for a house or condo. He was frustrated by having to go through a Real Estate Agent to get home listings. Agents have access to something called the MLS, which stands for Multiple Listings Service. What is the MLS you ask?

The Multiple Listing Service or "MLS" is the collection (or database) of properties listed for sale by nearly every real estate broker in a particular market or region. Multiple Listing Services are usually separate entities jointly owned and controlled by local real estate associations.


It seems that there is now a site which claims to open the MLS to individuals. While the primary purpose of my ideas has been officially coopted, it seems that some of the details still remain to be exploited. The most interesting idea proposed came from Sean Collins when he suggested that such a service might be modeled after Vehix.com (to which I refuse to link) but less offensive in its advertising. The problem facing us in the building of a hypothetical business of opening up the MLS database was how to create a revenue stream.

One possibility would be the Google approach, aka searching for properties would bring up ads for local and relevant services. Looking for houses during the summer would yield AC and painting companies close to the searched address. There are many other clearly relevant ad results ranging from home furnishing (beds, furniture, appliances, etc) to home repair and landscaping.

Another possibility would be to contact Real Estate Agents and get them to participate. So, when a customer discovers a house in the MLS, there would be a prominent button "Email Nearby Agents" with offers for a free initial consultation, paid advice, and brokering services. The advantage of this second and non-exclusive revenue stream (Agents would pay to be linked or per clickthrough or per consultation) is that it would deter some of the arguments that an online MLS search tool obliviates the need for Real Estate Agents. Instead, it would expand the advice part of their job in place of the actual buying and selling of homes.


Raul