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A New Blue Hue for You to View
The digitization of Henry Ford’s Model T is seeing an illuminating next chapter.
And it’s quite a sight.
Cars are (as has been written about many times on Jimmy’s Daily Planet) increasingly being designed and built as supercomputers. Tesla is the best practical evidence in 2016 of this burgeoning reality with the Model S, Model 3 and Model X. No, the price point for these three car models have not dropped into mainstream affordability, but the availability is there nonetheless. That’s impressive, even if it’s an expensive alternative. An encouraging note is the Tesla Model 3 is trying to crack the Lexus and Mercedes consumer market with a tax credit/incentive in the thousands that makes people take a second glance at the electric automaker beyond its sleek lines and quiet, yet powerful engine.
For many of the major car makers, their giant leap from the engine and functionality from the 20th century to the computerized innovation in the 21st century won’t be comprehensive. That’s impractical and foolish. At some point, perhaps in half a century, but that’s still a ways off…
Thankfully, as is the natural consequence of innovation, engineers are constantly conceptualizing that manageable next step.
“Powerful batteries will give the SUV a driving range of over 300 miles.
It will be priced like a “reasonably equipped Mercedes GLC.” At today’s prices, that would be around $50,000.”
–Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN Money
Visitors of the 2016 Paris Motor Show were recently privileged to an exciting first glimpse of the Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ imagined for modern roads. While the cool blue design is a concept, there doesn’t appear to be too many far-fetched ideas in the video above. Yes, it’s a promo made by and for the German car giants, yet this engineering dream looks like a realistic ambition for a few years down the road. However, one small speed bump may be that, as clean and appealing as the white interior shows in HD, perhaps the final call should favor dark blue or black (from experience, bright white leather may not pair well with dark jeans or clothing with indigo or black dye).
That’s the only grilling the EQ warrants. Speaking of which, that new grill is hot.
Red Blue-hot.
Would They Sell a Bad Apple?
Can Apple hear the critics now?
Speculation, as is the permanent protocol with tech and lifestyle giant Apple, has been building with the release of the iPhone 7 this September. Rumor of a dual camera has been an intriguing, potentially exciting new feature. Then there are rumors that the iPhone 7 will be the thinnest iPhone yet.
Here’s where Apple’s well-oiled rumor mill experiences some friction.
And from a familiar, beloved source, no less. He goes by “The Woz.”
“I would not use Bluetooth … I don’t like wireless,” he said. “I have cars where you can plug in the music, or go through Bluetooth, and Bluetooth just sounds so flat for the same music. He added, “If there’s a Bluetooth 2 that has higher bandwidth and better quality, that sounds like real music, I would use it. But we’ll see.”
–Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak / “The Woz”
The rumor is that Apple is going to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7.
Wireless headphones are gradually increasing in availability and improving in quality, but the wireless innovation for music listening hasn’t reached everyone by any stretch of the imagination. Currently, I can turn my Bluetooth on my iPhone and listen to music in my car from my iPhone and it works well. It’s important to note, though, that there is still a headphone jack for a wired connection. Bluetooth and a wired connection can and does co-exist in harmony.
The question is whether a thinner phone frame and disappearing headphone jack is worth irritating consumers and dedicated fans in the uncertain and still fragile post-Steve Jobs era?
The Apple Watch is a fun invention, but we live in a world in which most consumers will choose an iPhone or an Apple Watch. The functionality is strikingly similar, as was the design to promote a synchronized front. The point is that Apple consumers and followers haven’t experienced that “wow” moment the late Steve Jobs seemed to deliver with regularity. If Tim Cook’s Apple (which has made positive changes towards increased philanthropy pledges, as one example) makes the conscious decision to design and release an iPhone that doesn’t feel and sound like the revolutionary iPhone we all fell in love with, then the fragile standing of Apple’s superiority may take a slight hit.
Not a major hit, but in the aforementioned fragile post-Steve Jobs era at Apple, the last thing Mr. Cook and Co. want is to trend downward at any angle.
If only there was a way to remain connected to its celebrated past…
The Weight of History
If Usain Bolt (9.58 seconds) or Andre De Grasse (9.91 seconds) ran the 100m at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, how would they’ve fared against the legendary Jesse Owens (10.3 seconds)? Too bad we’ll never know.
Well, as Marty McFly would say, “This is heavy, Doc.”
The time traveling dash took place shortly prior to this year’s Olympics.
The natural inclination for sports commentators and analysts is to hype current athletes and achievements with superlatives. At times, the compliments fly at a slightly exaggerated rate. How quickly we forget the results of the past…or even just the last year. Still, there are athletic performances (individual and team) that warrant lightning-in-a-bottle fanfare. But it’s important to introduce perspective whenever possible. The fact is that Usain Bolt is a sprinter we may never see again in our lifetime. If you were to design the perfect sprinter, that final concept would look a hell of a lot like the 6’5″ Jamaican.
Witnessing Usain Bolt sprint today is the closest feat of running dominance and wow factor fans can experience that compares to the “Buckeye Bullet” people saw take flight 80 years ago.
Mr. Bolt’s achievements are undeniably laudable. However, as the phrase, “The greatest of all-time” is being cemented with his legacy, the video above shouldn’t necessarily deny that illustrious label. Instead, the struggle and significantly slower time produced by the 2016 Olympic 100m bronze medalist Andre De Grasse (9.91 seconds) should provide historical perspective and weight to the conditions, resources and technological advances made between 1936 Germany and 2016 Rio.
Usain Bolt is a once-in-a-lifetime sprinting legend and one of the fastest runners ever.
That’s an accurate statement at any point in track & field history.
The Core of Apple’s Genius
An apple rolled into a mall…
This blog has, on many occasions, paid tribute and explored the various reasons how and why Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak revolutionized the world with their visionary technology. Lightning in a bottle is being modest when discussing that small tech company known as Apple. Equal to its imaginative quality and inventive prowess is the seamless accessibility of the insanely great products in its store.
Apple, in somewhat groundbreaking fashion, popularized the modern mentality that its store patrons ask questions. Lots of questions. Apple’s retail culture encourages curiosity with current and potential customers. Most retail store employees (regardless of industry) will answer a few inquiries, but ultimately expect a purchase of an item or items. In other words, a more linear business model. Interestingly, the Apple store was envisioned with practice and learning in mind. Technology is a complicated field and perhaps the real genius behind the Cupertino, California-based company is not with its informative bar, but instead with its inviting culture to all those intrigued by its line of cool products.
15 years ago, the Apple store was conceptualized into an exciting reality.
The come in, sit down and stay awhile attitude altered the shopping and browsing in a mall paradigm from being more directly motivated by total sales towards a more indirect connection with customers who are returning and who are new, leading to another sale or a first sale. This is not to suggest that Apple store employees aren’t clever salespersons. Quite the contrary. However, the way they are presenting and promoting their products, and more importantly their brand, is the impressive change agent.
As technology continues to transform individuals and societies into digital ecosystems, let’s not forget the late Steve Jobs believed in bridging the past and future together and not apart. Like the Apple store, if the personal connection is the overarching priority in collaboration with its product offerings, then innovation will not only take flight, but exceed all perceived expectations.
This way, the conversation between business and customer continues far into the future.
That’s just one reason why millions of people pick-up an apple Apple each day.
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