The initiative of Dutch broadcaster BNN caused some stir. Not only within The Netherland, but also abroad: here (BBC), here (ABC) and here (France24) amongst others. Just do a Google-search on “Dutch Donor Show” and be astonished by the results (894.000)… In short: BNN said to air a show in which a very ill patient (kidney failure) would compete for a donor kidney. Afterwards the transplant would be arranged.
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Apple is blocking the MySpace-website in their stores. Up until now there was no official statement made, but the problems in the stores were growing. So, what’s the big deal? Well, Apple’s famous ‘try-and-play’ approach in the stores, makes it possible for everyone to try out Apple-products. A lot of people however, are using this possibility to pimp up their MySpace-pages. While a lot of Apple computers have a webcam build in, it is rather easy to make a picture of yourself. And with the convenient broadband connections in the stores, you can put it on your MySapce-page in a sec.
The problem is the amount of MySpace-users that was blocking the Macs for other people to play with. So, Apple now officially banned access to MySpace from its stores.
I think this act is not in line with Apple’s brand positioning. In their advertising they stimulate people to be creative and express themselves. Now they are in fact blocking this expression. It is wiser to open up one Mac in each store for the MySpace-junkies. Or: make an event out of it! Every wednesday afternoon is MySpace-day at the Apple stores. Employees help you out with putting your face in your MySpace-page. Thus demonstrating the possibilities of a Mac!
It is presented in the Blogosphere as an event of the year: the joint appearance of Steve Jobs (Apple) and Bill Gates (Microsoft). Already in February the blogs started buzzing about this happening. “Somewhere between May 29 and May 31…†This might be the result of Jobs’ carefully planned PR-machine (the man is a natural on this). Either the reason, the effect is that their respective followers act upon this event as it is the final election debate of two presidential candidates… Gates and Jobs will both (at the same time) appear at the All Things Digital Conference that takes place today. During the unrehearsed on-stage conversation Gates and Jobs will briefly discuss the history and future of the digital revolution. The conversation will take place with Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. Jobs will also be hosting his own individual session to discuss the iPhone and other developments at Apple. Hey, business after pleasure!
Update (May 31st): The event happened at May 30st. The report and some clips can be found here. Starting with the interactive “coffee table” named Surface, Bill Gates presented. We know this thing already for almost two years. Watch Jeff Han’s presentation at TED Talk, February 2006:
Yesterday, while having a coffee and apple pie at Dudok, just below my working environment, I noticed a sign on the front side of the Dudok-building. On it a phone-number and a big number ’15′. Appears that this is a notice that is part of a large architecture exposition around the center of Rotterdam. By calling the number, choosing Dutch or English and typing in the building-specific number (15 for Dudok) you’ll hear a story about the building. Now this is what I call a sensible use of a mobile phone! No need for picking up a Walkman at a tourist office. Just use your cellphone. Everyone carries one. Later I learned that I could also download MP3-files for all the building that are included in the tour. Nice!
It is true that great inventions are in fact rather simple. And so is the GSM Doorbell. This is the kind of invention you could have imagined yourself. But you didn’t. And neither did I. Connecting your GSM to your frontdoor (bell and lock) is in itself so simple, though so practical. Imagine: you won an eBay-auction and the postman is delivering the package at home. But your are not there. The postman ring (twice?) and your doorbell connects with your GSM. You can speak to the postman, asking him to leave the package at the neighbour’s. Or ask him to come back tomorrow, when you are home. And this example is also truly practical: the kids are earlier home than you thought. (Or: your are stuck in a traffic jam and too late to be home in time). They simple ring the doorbell. You hear it’s your kids and you open the door from your GSM. Truly an invention that makes you wonder why it wasn’t there earlier. I mean: how long do we use frontdoors and cellphones?
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