Archive | November, 2008

Blackberry Storm, perilously close to FAIL, thanks Verizon

by evbart on November 24, 2008 in Uncategorized

So I finally got my hands on a Blackberry Storm, and its not all bad news.  I was beginning to think that it was over before it even began based on the reviews I saw the lat couple days ( CrunchGear, Engadget, Gizmodo, etc.).

The very quick summary is that this phone is not YET silky, sexy, smooth like the iphone, and its not YET screaming fast like the Blackberry Bold, so it could be missing the mark for both of those audiences today. BUT!! It definitely has potential.  

The form factor was great, and the keyboard will ease the switch to a touch screen for the keyboard addicted masses.  Most importantly, its very close (with a few software updates) of feeling like a true Blackberry with a giant screen, and solid multimedia options!

Crackberry , a blog focusing on Blackberry phones, lays out details of some of the potential launch problems that could explain why the software isn’t running so smoothly, and why I’m hoping there will be quick fixes.

In the end, for this phone to compete with the platform that the iphone has become, it will have to do 3 things:

  1. The user interface will have to get smoother and smarter to keep the less tech savvy users happy.  To have the reach of the iphone, the Storm will have to get non-power users comfortable doing things like downloading applications, using gps, and surfing the web.  A poor UI could drastically slow those adoption rates.
     
  2. The software will have to get much faster to keep the power users happy.  Blackberry gurus that use the Curve or the Bold are accustomed to lightning fast response times.  Their thumbs fly over the keys of a Crackberry because its the only phone that can keep up with their fast paced minds, so don’t slow them down with the Storm (which I felt was as slow as the iphone 3G, when I reviewed it).
     
  3. Most importantly, Blackberry AND Verizon (they seem to deserve most of the blame) need to make it an open platform! The iphone falls short in this department, the Storm (and Verizon, because they tend to be control freaks) needs to be more open than the iphone to have a chance.
    -  You can’t lock down GPS, it needs to be open for ALL apps.
    -  You should have included wifi (Verizon shot it down)
    -  You can’t play favorites like apple , the new app center must be transparent/open 

    4.  [Update] just found out Verizon charges extra to use the GPS!  Thats insane!  If you can’t understand why GPS needs to be open on a mobile device and available to as many users as possible, then this device deserves to tank!

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Go small or go home

by evbart on November 22, 2008 in angel investing, startup, Uncategorized, VC

At the Web 2.0 Summit a few weeks ago, I sat in on a small panel called Incubator2.0.

It consisted of an all star alley/valley line-up: Josh Kopelman, Paul Graham, Jeff Clavier, and it was moderated by Dave Mcclure.

The underlying theme of the talk was that these guys are all betting on the early early.  Not the “early stage” that your “bulge bracket” VC lists on their site, but actual early stage deals.  Less than a million, ideas on napkin, barely a powerpoint, etc

For these the investors, the numbers also make more sense.  Get in early, get in with your friends through syndication, have room for your company to grow, and have the flexibility to take a $15million exit, rather than pushing for the IPO or the billion dollar acquisition.

I’ve been seeing this theme reflected in the angel community as well.  And frankly, its why we targeted the angel investors first at Angelsoft.  Its a more exciting space, and theres plenty of room upstream for your investment to find success.  I’m even seeing individual angel investors break off from their investment networks to do even earlier stage deals on their own.

I also want to point out that the guys on the Incubator2.0 panel heavily invested syndication.  They almost always do deals with each other, and are always shopping deals around.  Now not everyone has the connections that these guys have, but throug Angelsoft we’re connectin Angel investors from all across the world, and they’re syndicating to get larger deals done (or here)!

So there you have it, go early or go home.  Lots of people are feeling this trend, and they’re even predicting a lot of “culling” at the high end of the markets.  Money will dry up as the big funds can’t meet their numbers, and the model breaks down.  Even the MBAs are going back to the drawing board with Adeo Ressi.

At the earliest stages, you can get your hands dirty, find deals before the rest of the private equity world, and you can get in cheap.  This is where the real funding gap is, so there’s lots of people looking for money to get over the hump.

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Obama, make clean energy happen … the right way

by evbart on November 22, 2008 in energy, environment, obama

Andrew Revkin, from Dot Earth NY Times, wrote an article this morning about people providing advice to Obama on climate change.

I havn’t had time to read the anonymous one, but I dove into the one written by James E. Hansen (NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences)

Here’s a summary of the Hansen .pdf:

1) Coal is the number 1 enemy, and therefore the number 1 solution to the problem.

2) Nuclear is huge, and can help us get away from coal faster than anything else, but nuclear can’t just continue with the same technology.  New technologies can be used that create less waste, and consume or “burn” existing nuclear wasted.

3) We need a progressive carbon tax.  One that rewards the public for making changes and conserving.

4) Cap and Trade is bullshit greenwashing.  Look at who supports it, people who want more coal plants.

5) The young people that have recently been motivated to participate in the political system are expecting real change.

His last comment is “ If that does not happen, surely they (the young people) will begin to raise their voices louder.”  I see this as both a challange and a criticism to our generation.

We have been complacent, we have not come together to enact change, and many of us think its because there havn’t been issues that are important enough to us.  

Well, here it is kids.  Read the article, get concerned, and get involved.

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