March 23, 2007 by Omar Khudari
Boston’s public transportation system just got an awesome new tool. It is a web-based trip planner that works just like MapQuest driving directions—only instead of driving directions, you get directions by bus, train, and foot. You input a departure time (sadly, no option for desired arrival time), and the trip planner uses official bus and train schedules to figure out the fastest way to go.
The system has gotten mostly lukewarm press since its initial buggy launch on December 15. But I found it to work extremely well. It inspired me enough to order a CharlieCard for the first time. We’ll see how much I actually use it.
If the MBTA does add wireless access, email alerts, and real-time GPS bus location data to the system as promised, Boston’s public transportation will become dramatically more convenient. Imagine if there were a button you could push on your cell phone that would tell you (using your phone’s GPS location) how long before the next bus would arrive at the nearest bus stop. What about an application that would send your cell phone a text message at the exact time when you should pick up and leave your office because the bus for your commute home is five minutes away up the street? There may come a time when we see a virtuous cycle of increased convenience leading to increased ridership leading to increased routes and schedules, etc.
The new web site was built by RDVO, a Massachusetts company, at a cost of $400,000. That is a lot of money for a web site, even for a $1.3 billion enterprise like the MBTA. But in this age of global warming, I feel strongly that the new site is a step in the right direction. Perhaps other cities that do not have a system like it can benefit from the investment Boston has made.
Posted in MBTA, Public Transportation, Urban Planning, Web Business | 1 Comment »
March 21, 2007 by Omar Khudari
I have puzzled for many years over Macromedia’s (and now Adobe’s) Flash business model: They allow anyone to compete freely with the Flash authoring tool (which they sell for money), but one must pay for the right to compete with the Flash player (which they give away for free). Hindsight tells us that the model works, because it has helped make Flash the standard for rich Internet applications. But I have always marveled that Adobe makes enough money selling a paltry few authoring tools and that they don’t mind giving away hundreds of millions of copies of the player for free.
Many pundits (most recently Ted Leung and Anne Zelenka) worry that Adobe’s control of the Flash standard is bad for the web. They are hoping Adobe will hand control of the standard over to the open source community. The concern is that so much power should not rest in one company’s hands—the company will be tempted to abuse it.
The response from Adobe’s evangelists (e.g. Andrew Shebanow, Duane Nickull) is essentially “we’re trustworty Hobbits—the One Ring of Power is not going to corrupt us.”
But companies must act in the best interests of their shareholders. Adobe should do and probably will do whatever will profit them the most. The question of what is best for the web community is only relevant as it affects Adobe’s bottom line.
Adobe’s own annual report says that they intend to “explore monetization opportunities” for the Flash Player and Adobe Reader (p. 21). My opinion: if they even hint at charging money for the player, that standard will be gone…well, in a flash.
Posted in Adobe, Flash, Web Business | No Comments »
March 9, 2007 by Omar Khudari
Yesterday, I saw Nintendo’s creative superstar, Shigeru Miyamoto, deliver the keynote address at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. His name is unknown to the masses of non-video game fans. But among gamers, he is revered almost to the point of worship.
The whole speech was great, but the best part was a fascinating glimpse into his personal life. Miyamoto spoke about his wife, who had long held an aversion to video games. His wife did not even care for the wholesome and broadly appealing games of his own design. He came to use his “wife-o-meter” as the ultimate test of broad appeal. Even Tetris, famous for its popularity with women, scored a zero on his wife-o-meter.
When their daughter began playing Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a turning point occurred. His wife put aside her distaste in order to observe and monitor. Later came Animal Crossing, and Mrs. Miyamoto first agreed to touch the controller. Then came Nintendogs (the Miyamotos have a family dog) and finally, Brain Age, and Mrs. Miyamoto became truly interested.
And then today, of course, we have a Wii in our house. So last month, on the 14th, Valentine’s Day (in Japan on Valentine’s Day, women give chocolates to men—it’s very nice). So as usual, I came home rather late from work, and I expected her to be asleep. But I opened the door, and I heard the sounds of the Wii. So of course I thought “Oh, she waited up! Just to give me chocolates! That’s so sweet!” But actually, she was just casting her votes on the Everybody Votes channel. But here’s the amazing thing: what this meant is that she herself used the Wii and downloaded the Everybody Votes channel all on her own. This is an incredible occurrence in my household. Like—it would be more normal for me to walk home and find Donkey Kong eating at my dinner table. So now, things have really changed at my house.
(Full video of the keynote available at Gamespot.com)
Posted in Game Developers Conference, Shigeru Miyamoto, Video Games | 1 Comment »
February 28, 2007 by Omar Khudari
I had a surreal experience last night: watching Ira Glass and company performing an episode of their radio show, This American Life, live at the Boston Opera House. This American Life is on tour to promote the upcoming television version of the show (premiering March 22 at 10:30 PM on ShowTime).
In a fascinating segment that won’t be heard on radio, Glass and his director, Chris Wilcha, showed some clips and outtakes from the TV show and recounted their struggle to translate the appeal of This American Life to video.
My vote: the TV show is just as brainy and hip as the radio show. The cinematography is way cool. However, it totally lacks the meditative, contemplative quality of radio. To me, the quintessential This American Life experience is catching it in the car on Saturday and ending up parked at my destination, sitting in a trance for 20 minutes to hear the show finish. The TV version is not like that.
There used to be a TV show that had a similar effect on me. It was CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt. Sunday Morning had two things This American Life does not: long, silent nature shots and a Sunday morning (pajamas/bagels/coffee) time slot. Perhaps I will Tivo This American Life and watch it on Sunday.
Posted in Ira Glass, Radio, Reviews, Television, Theater, This American Life | No Comments »
February 26, 2007 by Omar Khudari
Friend and mentor, Tom Snyder, is directing “WORKING the ROOM: An Evening with Jonathan Katz and Friends” this Friday and Saturday at Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater in Somerville, Massachusetts. For fans of their hit Comedy Channel series, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, this is a must-see.
Posted in Comedians, Entertainment, Jonathan Katz, Things To Do, Tom Snyder | No Comments »
February 9, 2007 by Omar Khudari
The Hollywood Reporter has an article today with the headline, “Disney getting back to hand-drawn animation.” Unfortunately, it offers no specifics about The Frog Princess or anything else. Just that Ed Catmull, speaking at Disney’s annual Investors Conference in Orlando yesterday, said he and Lasseter intend to bring traditional animation back, “provided a worthy story is being told.”
Other news from the conference: Disney intends to build a few mini theme parks around the country, and the made-for-TV movie, High School Musical made a $100 million profit.
Posted in Animation, Disney | No Comments »
February 2, 2007 by Omar Khudari
I just flew in from the coast on United. The inflight movie was one I had not heard of: Man of the Year starring Robin Williams. So I was pleased when, instead of a preview, they aired one of those Ebert and Roeper style reviews before the show. Imagine my surprise when the reviewers panned the film! OK, to be fair: one thumb way down and one thumb sideways.
Is it possible they were getting complaints from customers about lousy inflight movies, so someone in legal decided: better add a warning?
Posted in Movies, Reviews, United Airlines | No Comments »
February 1, 2007 by Omar Khudari
Posted in Monty Python, Web Business | No Comments »
February 1, 2007 by Omar Khudari
I heard this morning on NPR that this Sunday’s Superbowl might be the first to air an advertisement that was made on a budget of $12.79.
Demonstrating perfect pitch for what kids are up to these days, Frito-Lay decided to forego spending $1 million on a professionally-produced Doritos Superbowl commercial. Instead, in mid-September they launched “Crash the Superbowl,” a web-based contest for home-made Doritos ads. Frito-Lay picked 5 finalists out of the 1060 submissions. The winner, chosen by consumer web voting, will be aired Sunday in front of 90 million viewers. It is kind of YouTube meets American Idol.
My only question: who will get the Clio—the kid with the camera and $12.79, or the genius who thought up this plan?
Posted in Advertising, Crash the Superbowl, Doritos, Superbowl | No Comments »
January 28, 2007 by Omar Khudari
Every nation has its traditional holidays. Scotland is the only country I know of with a ritual celebration of its national poet (Robert Burns). How great is that! The celebration is called a Burns Supper. It always includes drinking scotch whiskey, reciting poetry, and eating a dreadfully unappetizing traditional sausage called “haggis.”
I went to my first ever Burns Supper last night. I was nervous enough about eating haggis to consider bringing a granola bar as a backup meal. However, surprise #1: the haggis was quite edible—even good, served with mashed potatoes and rutabaga.
Surprise #2: I loved the poetry. I am not usually a big fan of poetry readings. Maybe it had something to do with the 3 different single malt scotches I tried. Anyway, my favorite poem was “To A Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With The Plough.” This stanza stayed with me all day today (and not just because it is the only one in English):
I’m truly sorry man’s dominion,
Has broken nature’s social union,
An’ justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An’ fellow-mortal!
Posted in Burns Supper, Poetry, Robert Burns, Things To Do | No Comments »
