Technology

Welcome to The Everything Wars

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Bonnie and I write on video wars, text wars, audio wars, book wars.  I'm starting to think that we may have this wrong.  Not that we're wrong about there being a LOT of competition over standards, delivery methods, media, etc.  I think we're not looking at it from a big enough picture.

We've seen Google announce an OS aimed at Netbooks.  Microsoft suddenly announces Office for Web really isn't as far away as it seemed.  Amazon is working on text deployment (Kindle of course), which conflicts with Barnes and Noble, and also runs on the iPhone.  The iPhone now has to cope with Android (Google), but Verizon is also getting in on the phone app store act.  EVERYONE is busy with some kind of video, while Hulu finally explains why PS3 people got locked out for awhile, and Netflix is scrambling to work with Microsoft.  Microsoft as we noted, is tussling with Google, so who knows what's next.

We don't have video wars.  Or audio wars.  Or text wars.

In the technical side of the Geekonomy we've now got the EVERYTHING wars.  Everyone at some point seems to be butting heads with everyone else in the technology and media side of things.  I'd say we've got unprecedented conflicts, changes, and just plain weirdness coming our way for at least two years.

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The Future of Publishing

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After reading this article on Michael Stackpoole's ideas about where fiction is going, my usual speculation urges came to the forefront.  I began to wonder what might a viable model be for publishing internet fiction that would go around the big publishers, or at least let one build a reputation and an audience.

Understand of course I am NOT a professional writer (I've been published professionally, which is no where near the same).  This is pure geek theory, so take it as you will, and make sure that grain of salt has friends.

So, here goes – what I see as a viable model for fiction publishing in the future.

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Netbooks, Laptops, Smartphones

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I'm going to talk about Netbooks and laptops.  Please don't let this shock you, I know it's very unusual here.

On the 7/10 podcast Bonnie and I made one of our asides to discuss Netbooks and how it was relevant to Google's Chrome OS.  I noted Netbooks do have a niche as what a Laptop is is changing, so I wanted to go a bit further on this since it will have affects on the market.

I used to be a non-believer in Netbooks – they seemed to be stripped down laptops.  Then when Bonnie got one and found it useful, I began to see they served a vital niche, and now I have my own, I really get it.  The importance of netbooks is not overshadowed by Laptops – it compliments them.

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