I'm just watching the Bill G and Steve Jobs interview at D5. Bill and Steve ooze humility. I just love it. Watch them describe each other's contributions to the industry. It's interesting how the media create this perception of rivalry and war. It's not a zero sum game. It's not a case of win lose anymore. They seem to have a genuine respect for one another.
An interesting concept. It's actually Steve Jobs analogy for the iTunes experience on Windows. He commented;
'It's like giving a glass of iced water to someone in hell'
This guy is smart. That was his reaction to a question about Apple developing Windows software at the D5: All Things Digital conference currently going on in San Diego. I watched the Steve Jobs interview here. What strikes me most about Mr Jobs is that he's passionate, relaxed and confident. He clearly loves what he does. Nothing seems to phase him.
He's realistic. He wants to dispel the notion that iTunes is something that locks people into iPod. He says 'it's ridiculous'. He's realistic about the fact that the average iPod has less than 25 iTunes songs. Apple clearly is a company that wants to democratise technology. In my opinion Apple products are enablers. They enable me to express myself and I customise them to express my identity. I'm proud to be seen bearing the Apple logo. That's clever stuff. And what's even more clever is that this is a company that has had to re-invent itself, something considerably more difficult than inventing yourself.
As Hugh MacLeod comments in 'The Hughtrain';
'Product benefit doesn't excite us. Belief in humanity and human potential excite us'
To me, that's what Steve Jobs personifies. As Hugh comments, and I agree, branding is a spiritual exercise. What I own is my soul. No-one can take that away from me. It's soul that informs the brand.
Microsoft is currently working on what's called the 'surface computer'. Think of a coffee table - or look at one. This is a coffee table with a difference. The surface i.e. where you put your coffee is a computer screen.
I've just watched a demo. The feature I like is the wireless capability. I can take a photo, put the camera on the table, watch the photo appear on the coffee table screen via the seamless wireless connection. Take it a step further. Put your phone on the table. Drag the photo, with your finger to the phone and now it's on your phone. Question. What happens if I spill my coffee?
When it comes to personalising my online ID I wish I could manage everything from one place without the hassle of managing settings for my phone, instant messenger, my MacBook. I'd like my profile picture to be the same on all my devices. And when I change it, I'd like it to sync across everything. Perhaps this is getting closer to being able to do that.
Is Microsoft getting cool again? If Popfly is anything to go by Microsoft might have their finger on the pulse. As my good friend the 'Geek in Disguise' says, it's the Ozzie factor. That is Ray Ozzie. They're no match to Apple on the 'cool' factor (yet) but perhaps they've turned a corner. I genuinely hope so. They just need to learn how to tell the story. And if you need to know about how to do that, Seth is your man.
I had wanted to find an Asian person to talk with about emoticons and other related content in Asia. I tried to research the market myself but as my Chinese language skills are non-existent, struggled somewhat. There are heaps of social networking sites but at times I find them over facing. I always find face to face interaction 100% more satisfying.
So imagine this, I'm working from a home office for an internet based
company. My resources are limited but I want to meet and talk with
Asian consumers. My location, a small beach town called Noosa on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. Pace of life: slow. This is the land of the 'surfer dude'.
My brainwave was the local English language school. I went to their website and submitted a 'wanted' post on their forum. I didn't hold much hope. About a week later a get an email from an address with chinese characters. That's how I met Witty.
Witty and I met at Grub & Co (the local deli) for drinks and chat. Her English is good but I failed to understand she wanted a latte when I asked her what she wanted to drink. To me it sounded like 'nata' - a weird drink I'd not heard of or a strange way of saying 'nothing'. Eventually I got it after she said it for the forth time!
We had a great chat and it looks like we'll do some business together. As it turns out, Witty is a graphic designer and can create some images for me. So not only did I learn about icon imagery in Asia, I recruited a new designer for My Display Image.
I find it quite fascinating that I can still do business from this little beach town using the forum of the local language school. Who would have thought. It was important we met. It's funny how the wrong impression is so easily created when English isn't your first language. Short terse sentences are easiest which I find easy to interpret as slightly irritable. Witty was far from irritable. With the Taiwanese accent we needed the use of our bodies to optimize the conversation.
Expression. A word I sat here pondering on a Tuesday afternoon. Expression works at so many different levels. I was thinking about the difference between individual and a group expression.
Personally, until recent years I didn't know how to express emotions and feelings. The only thing I knew how to do was bury them. Deep. So deep that I didn't know they were there. I turned into a walking talking jelly baby.
The irony being that I was an anorexic jelly baby. Like a jelly baby I was pretty shapeless, plain and without words. Numb when by head was bitten off. Like a jelly baby I made myself attractive to others. On the outside my life looked good, inside I was mush.
Personal expression is something I think is really important for emotional health. I wonder how many people can really express themselves and articulate what's going on? Can men share emotions without being accused of being gay? I look around at the number of ads with macho men. What sort of standard is being promoted?
Health is getting rising coverage especially with the awareness around obesity and the radical change to McDonalds menu. I must say the new rolls they've released look pretty good. But what about emotional health? Does that get overlooked in capitalist western society?
That's why I love the use of blogs as a media to express myself with other people. The same goes for the little emoticon and display images Express More creates. I change my display picture in MSN Messenger (I should say 'Windows Live Messenger') every week. That's just one form of expression - my clothes have always been another. Even at the age of 13 I'd wear crazy Lacroix trousers.
To me blogs aren't about saying 'look at me'. This blog is a personal reaction to the things I observe around me. And then this question pops into my mind. Can I really express myself without feeling judged? I think that might be related to self-confidence and honesty. That's what this blog is. Candidly honest thoughts from the jotter of an unconventional blonde.
David Taylor, the brand coach behind 'Where's the Sausage?' says it how it is on his post about 'commenting virginity'. As the conversation on this blog is all about 'expression' it would be deeply ironic if no-one commented.
As my gorgeous friend Jeanie Bergin taught me 'there's no right and wrong; there's only right and left'. It's kind of scary to say anything you like about the conversation on this blog but please do. That's the fun part. Not knowing where the conversation will go. Embrace the unknown, don't fear it. Free fall with your comments.
