Google Postini Drives Competitors to a Martini
November 6, 2009
Google has found a way to stimulate sales at the establishments frequented by competitors. The Google makes a belated attempt to allow users to “see” what data about them Google has gathered. Almost simultaneously, Google gives its enterprise applications a bionic arm. Instead of the wimpy security and administrative controls that competitors enjoyed mocking, the Google has mashed up the promising Google Apps with the more robust Postini capabilities. If you are not familiar with Google Apps, click here. If you have a knowledge gap about Postini, click here. You will want to read the PC World article “Postini Technology to Spread Across Google Apps” as well. In a nutshell, Google Apps is no longer the 96 pound enterprise weakling. Google Apps may not be ready for a fist fight with Tito Ortiz, but the Google is adding some muscle. Three observations:
- Microsoft is going to have a fight on its hands going forward. The Google is obviously eager to sap some of Microsoft’s revenue. The Los Angeles deal is just the beginning.
- Pundits who have been pumping the wonders of SharePoint are going to have to step back and figure out how to bring some balance to their analyses of SharePoint and related products.
- Google, fresh from rolling out some of the programmable search engine features, has quite a few tech tricks back home in Mountain View. I anticipate a flurry of announcements before the Google heads to ski slopes later this year. Microsoft is chopping jobs; Google is on the move..
Next (2010) is going to be quite interesting. Google needs only to begin inflicting small revenue gashes on the giant from Redmond. Death by a thousand cuts appears to be one of Google’s methods. I wonder if Google will file a patent application for this method at Google scale? I think I will head down to the River Creek Inn to check on the martini consumption?
Stephen Arnold, November 6, 2009
I got a hug at our meet up last night. Quick. Alert the Coast Guard. Oh, wait. The hug was not related to this article. Nope. Another freebie.
Google Pressures eCommerce Search Vendors
November 6, 2009
Companies like Dieselpoint, Endeca, and Omniture Mercado face a new competitor. The Google has, according to Internet News, “launched Commerce Search, a cloud-based enterprise search application for e-tailers that promises to improve sales conversion rates and simplify the online shopping experience for their customers.” For me the most significant passage in the write up was:
Commerce Search not only integrates the data submitted to Google’s Product Center and Merchant Center but also ties into its popular Google Analytics application, giving e-tailers an opportunity to not only track customer behavior but the effectiveness of the customized search application. Once an e-tailer has decided to give Commerce Search a shot, it uploads an API with all its product catalog, descriptions and customization requirements and then Google shoots back an API with those specifications that’s installed on the Web site. Google also offers a marketing and administration consultation to highlight a particular brand of camera or T-shirt that the retailer wants to prominently place on its now customized search results. It also gives e-tailers full control to create their own merchandising rules so that it can, for example, always display Canon cameras at the top of its digital camera search results or list its latest seasonal items by descending price order.
Google’s technical investments in its programmable search engine, context server, and shopping cart service chug along within this new service. Google’s system promises to be fast. Most online shopping services are sluggish. Google knows how to deliver high speed performance. Combining Google’s semantic wizardry with low latency results puts some of the leading eCommerce vendors in a technology arm lock.
Some eCommerce vendors have relied on Intel to provide faster CPUs to add vigor to older eCommerce architectures. There are some speed gains, but Google delivers speed plus important semantic enhancements that offer other performance benefits. One example is content processing. Once changes are pushed to Google or spidered by Google from content exposed to Google, the indexes update quickly. Instead of asking a licensee of a traditional eCommerce system to throw hardware at a performance bottleneck or pay for special system tuning, the Google just delivers speed for structured content processed from the Google platform.
In my opinion, competitors will point out that Google is inexperienced in eCommerce. Google may appear to be a beginner in this important search sector. Looking more deeply into the engineering resources responsible for Commerce Search one finds that Google has depth. I hate to keep mentioning folks like Ramanathan Guha, but he is one touchstone whose deep commercial experience has influenced this Google product.
How will competitors like Dieselpoint, Endeca, and Omniture Mercado respond? The first step will be to downplay the importance of this Google initiative. Next I expect to learn that Microsoft Fast ESP has a better, faster, and cheaper eCommerce solution that plays well with SharePoint and Microsoft’s own commerce server technology. Finally, search leaders such as Autonomy will find a marketing angle to leave Google in the shadow of clever positioning. But within a year, my hunch is that Google’s Commerce Search will have helped reshape the landscape for eCommerce search. Google may not be perfect, but its products are often good enough, fast, and much loved by those who cannot imaging life without Google.
Stephen Arnold, November 6, 2009
I want to disclose to the Department of the Navy that none of these vendors offered me so much as a how de doo to write this article.
Louisville Meet Up Lights Up Ali Center
November 5, 2009
ArnoldIT.com’s TheSeed2020 meet up for women- and minority-owned businesses was a hit. The event, held at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville, Kentucky – attracted more than 80 people. The purpose of the event was to explore the effectiveness of social media marketing. The ArnoldIT.com team – Stuart Adams, Esq., Don Anderson, Constance Ard, Shaun Livingston, Keisha Mabry, Rob Redmon, Tony Safina, and Stuart Schram – used Facebook.com, Twitter.com, and email to announce the event. The event’s Web site was produced using the SquareSpace.com service. You can look at the information about the events and peruse each of the presentations at http://www.theseed2020.com. A short video about the event will be made available in the next two weeks and posted on the ArnoldIT.com Web site.
Dr. Emeka Akaezuwa and Tess (ArnoldIT.com’s SharePoint expert) argue about the technical nuances of SQL Server 10.
I noted a number of presentations that were outstanding. I want to highlight Dr. Emeka Akaezuwa’s talk about the principles that have guided him through his operation of the successful Gaviri Technologies software company and his role in the Global Literacy Project. The crowd listened with rapt attention as Dr. Akaezuwa described his journey from Nigeria to his PhD in computer science from Rutgers University to his running a software company, raising a family, and working one month each year in Africa to make it possible for children to learn to read. More information about Dr. Akaezuwa’s company Gaviri is here. Information about the GLP foundation is here. Among many wonderful talks, his set a benchmark at TheSeed2020. I was disappointed that local Louisville business reporters did not avail themselves of the opportunity to speak with Dr. Akaezuwa and other presenters at this event. Their loss in my opinion.
Some of the ArnoldIT.com team. Back row, left to right: Keisha Mabry, MBA and Constance Ard, MLS. Front row, left to right: Don Anderson, Dr. Emeka Akaezuwa, and Stuart Adams, Esq.
Key findings from the event were:
- Social media is as labor intensive as more traditional marketing methods. With carefully tailored social media messages, it is possible to reach a larger number of potential attendees than with more traditional methods.
- The cost of mounting a social media campaign is the time required to prepare the various messages and materials. An organization jumping into social media marketing without the skill and appropriate human resources may find that the new tools may not be an automatic home run. The ArnoldIT.com motto “Nothing worthwhile comes easy” is a message to consider.
- The people tracking social media messages who attend the event are definitely technically aware and computer oriented. The companies represented at the event had individuals in their firm who understood and used social media. One surprise was that a number of the conversations among attendees were about information, search, and online marketing. The program was designed to represent a wide range of businesses, technology was a unifying factor among the audience.
- Sponsors who expect a traditional trade show set up will have to learn new ways of engaging attendees. The emphasis was upon face-to-face conversations and a good social presence. Wall flowers are as forlorn in a meet as they were as at a grade school dance. Attendees were engaging. The two sponsors of the program were out of their element.
- Attendees appreciated the opportunity to learn and network. Unlike traditional trade shows where grousing is the conference sport, the attendees at this event were enthusiastic. One person told me that the evening was “fun”; another said, “Joyful”. I learned that these comments made me happy to have had the opportunity to support the event.
One attendee—a minority, female PhD in point of fact—point out that there was a single male minority giving a speech. There were two guys. I suppose I will have to muster the strength speak to Ms Ard and Ms Mabry about their bias toward smart, high-powered, successful females.
To wrap up, ArnoldIT.com has refined its social media communications methods. If your firm wants to move forward with a well-organized, effective meet up, contact seaky2000 at yahoo dot com. The managers of the ArnoldIT.com meet up service are Keisha Mabry, MBA, and Constance Ard, MLS.
I will post a link to the video for the event when it becomes available.
Stephen Arnold, November 5, 2009
I paid myself to write this article about my own business. I even pay the people whom I thanked for their outstanding work. To whom do I report this crass marketing work? Maybe I can email the White House. In case this is not clear, this post is an advertisement, a pitch, a shameless effort to hype my colleagues, and a boastful message about a job well done. Too bad the Louisville business associations could not make this type of business program part of their agenda. Guess those outfits are too busy with more important activities than highlighting individuals who are thriving in a lousy economy. Ooops. I am supposed to disclose, not criticize the status quo. Wow, I am sorry.
Exalead Nabs ACM Award at the Multimedia Grand Challenge
November 5, 2009
Last year, I had an opportunity to test drive the Exalead video search system Voxalead. I admit that several Exalead engineers bought me lunch and asked about computer use in Harrod’s Creek. I was sufficiently impressed with the Exalead’s engineers to make a short video about the service. At that time, few in the US were aware of Exalead’s system for converting video or any rich media into searchable content. Once converted a user can query the content and see a results list with the exact point in the video relevant to the query available with a mouse click. No more serial hunting.
The lunch was good but the technology was better. Upon my return to the US, I received a number of questions about the technology. I learned earlier this week that ACM awarded Exalead an award for this invention. Exalead told me:
Voxalead News lets you search for keywords inside videos, rather than simply searching limited external information like titles or descriptions. A tremendous timesaver, Voxalead further lets you jump right to the point in the video in which your search term is used! The Voxalead demonstration currently offers search in four languages (English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic) across a select set of news sources.
Since the award, Exalead has received inquiries about the technology from organizations in media, publishing, eDiscovery, competitive intelligence, and social networking.For more information, visit the Multimedia Grand Challenge 2009 Web page. You can also test drive Voxalead News and other Exalead innovations at the Exalabs site.
A happy quack to the Exalead team. Next time I am in Paris, I want another free lunch.
Stephen Arnold, November 5, 2009
The US Army is officially notified that I wrote this article because I liked that Exalead lunch and because I still think Voxalead is one of the most useful rich media search systems I have tested. Yes, a one star French meal makes this goose quite fat and happy, thank you.
Wall Street Journal Proving that Newspaper Marketing Is Off the Rails
November 5, 2009
Okay, I am a real life subscriber to the Wall Street Journal. I have written the company, called its 800 number, and captured the spam attack on me in this blog. The Wall Street Journal simply ignores a customer’s requests to be treated as a – well – paying customer.
Today more spam. Here’s the crap that floats into my personal mail account:
This is the same annoying, repetitive, stupid offer. I am a subscriber. I paid more than $204 for my print subscription. If I am smart enough to subscribe, perhaps I am smart enough to figure out that the WSJ is low balling me. Why would I buy a second subscription at a lower price when I have learned that the WSJ gouged me earlier this year?
But that’s not enough!
The Wall Street Journal mailed me the following offer:
Note that this special offer to me, a paying customer, is yet another astounding discount. How much can I buy a second unneeded subscription to the Wall Street Journal?
The cost is only $59. Keep in mind that I paid more than the spam offer. Now this desperate, confused and inept publisher is reminding me that its premier business publication is worth $59 a year or in the $0.20 per day range.
How stupid does this outfit think I am? Pretty stupid, I assume.
To recap:
- I am a customer.
- I paid hundreds of dollars for one subscription to the Wall Street Journal
- One one day I received an offer via spam email and then a second lower ball offer via snail mail.
Folks, this marketing is a clear signal that the Wall Street Journal does not care about me as a customer. It is marketing special offers that make me feel as if I were duped. The company ignores a customer’s request to be spared unneeded, unwanted offers.
Mr. Murdoch, you have a method that angers me and demonstrates poor business judgment. Keep in mind that I am an existing customer. Amazing.
Stephen Arnold, November 5, 2009
- To the Government Printing Office: I was not paid to write this case analysis. Do you think the WSJ would pay me to do anything for them?
Tribune Tests Zapping the AP
November 5, 2009
My recollection is that the AP (Associated Press) had its roots in the newspaper industry. The idea was that newspapers could pool some resources and get better coverage without putting their own feet on the street in certain news hot spots. Well, the times are changing. Phil Rosenthal’s “Tribune Co. Papers Rewiring for Experimental Week without AP” describes an interesting test. A big newspaper will publish without content from the AP. For me, the most interesting comment in the article was:
Some newspapers have determined that shared wire content that is available to readers from many other outlets is worth less to them than unique, proprietary content, especially online. Coupled with reductions in the space allocated for news in print, papers are weighing whether there’s the same need for Associated Press content as in the past.
If the experiment provides data that the Tribune cannot move forward without the AP content, that’s a plus for the AP. If the experiment provides data that the Tribune can operate without the AP content, that’s a negative for the AP.
Set aside the outcome. If the AP is “must have” content, why is a test needed? If there is uncertainty, there must be substantive cause. Ergo: big trouble brewing in my opinion. Either way, the “value” of the AP causes doubt.
Stephen Arnold, November 5, 2009
The Kentucky county commissioner must hear from me that I was not paid to write this blog post. Oyez.
Yahoo and Real Time Search
November 5, 2009
I thought Yahoo said it was going to make search a priority. I assumed that its wizards and wizardettes would tap their inner coders. Wrong if I understand the TechCrunch story “OneRiot Confirms They’re Building Yahoo’s Real Time Search Engine”. How is Yahoo going to respond to the real time search need? Yahoo is working with OneRiot. I like the OneRiot service, but I think the deal makes clear that Yahoo’s top management has more confidence in the “buy” approach than the “make” approach. This deal suggests to me that Yahoo’s own search wizards and wizardettes are either busy with other tasks or not up to the rigors of the real time search task. Just my opinion.
Stephen Arnold, November 5, 2009
I want to alert DHS that I received zero consideration for this blog post about Yahoo’s search wizardry.
Microsoft and Its Data Center Revealed
November 5, 2009
I found the Cnet write up “Inside One of the World’s Largest Data Centers” interesting. The text provided some useful factoids; for example, the giant data center “will eventually occupy 700,000 square feet” and this comment in the story:
Microsoft originally intended to open the Chicago facility last year, but the company has slowed its data center pace some amid the weaker economy and an array of cutbacks companywide.
The plus for me was the inclusion of photos. The detail which interests me was not visible, but the photos provide a good idea of what Microsoft’s approach is at this time. I was able to get an idea about cabling, server size, and device density.
Does the information disclosed suggest that Microsoft has sped past Google’s data centers? Based on what was visible in the article’s pictures, I believe that Microsoft’s engineers have examined Google’s public information about its approach and added a Microsoft twist. The size and density struck me as distinguishing characteristics. Where the rubber meets the road, however, is in the use of automated methods to provision devices and the sophistication of smart software to deal with hot spots, hardware failure, and the other annoyances that crop up with lots of gizmos operate under load.
The write up is one to read and save in my opinion.
Stephen Arnold, November 5, 2009
To the US Postal Service: I wrote this without any inducement, including one day mail delivery.
Microsoft Cuts Some Prices, then Bumps SQL Server Up
November 5, 2009
ZDNet’s “Microsoft to Raise Prices, Add More High-End Editions with SQL Server 2008 R2” had some useful information for my work. The portion of the article that I noted was:
- Standard: $7,500 (Per Processor), or $100/Server + $162/CAL (a $1,500 increase over SQL 2008 Standard)
- Enterprise $28,800 (Per Processor), or $9.900/Server + $162/CAL (a $3,800 increase over SQL 2008 Enterprise)
- Datacenter $57,500 (Per Processor), Not offered via Server/CAL (no previous version available)
- Parallel Data Warehouse: $57,500 (Per Processor), Not offered via Server/CAL (no previous version available).
When I read the article, I wondered what would happen if Google challenged Microsoft in the enterprise data management sector? If Google’s offering were better and cheaper, what would Microsoft’s response be? Interesting to watch consumer pricing and enterprise pricing from Microsoft move in opposite directions.
Stephen Arnold, November 5, 2009
Health and Human Services Department: I did not get paid by any healthy or unhealthy person to write this blog post.
Making Content the Old Fashioned Way
November 4, 2009
When I write a crappy story, Tess bites my ankle. The rest of the goslings don’t care. Programmers are not entranced by my prose. I found it interesting that the mavens of real journalism, the custodians of news, resorted to a fist fight, if the story in the Washingtonian is accurate. Navigate to “Fists Fly after Post Editor Tells Writer, “It’s the Second Worst Story I Have Seen in Style in 43 Years”. The passage I liked was:
Veteran Style writers said they knew Allen [the attacking editor] wasn’t happy. He had come up in Style’s heady days, when writers could wax for a hundred inches on the wonder of plastic lawn furniture or the true meaning of the Vietnam War Memorial. No more. Working part time on contract, Allen seethed over the lost art of long-form journalism.
The writer and the editor had a fist fight. Yep, the lost art. I wonder if the metadata for the news story will include such terms as fight, culture, custodian, intellectual, and maturity?
Stephen Arnold, November 4, 2009
I want to disclose to the Peace Corps. that I was not paid to write this short article.
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