A Cambridge-based company called SmartWorlds has developed a technology that will allow shoppers to compare prices and access reviews on cell phones and handhelds -- while still in a physical shop.
The free application, iShop, enables people to key in ISBN numbers and other information to refer to Amazon listings, order online, and email reports. Intriguingly, the idea -- according to a Jan. 1 Cambridge Chronicle piece by Mike Fisher -- stemmed from a museum-based application with which museum goers could learn more about sculptures and paintings. Future plans for service expansion include DVD and electronics commerce tie-ins. SmartWorlds has also partnered with Boston-based Trident Booksellers.
Those are the gimmies. Now if only I could tie iShop into Amazon's Wish List and my cell phone's global positioning for opt-in push-based alerts. One aspect of mapblogging down, many more to go.
[transmitted via sidekick hiptop.]
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
Seedy CD's
A recent bust on Central Square nabbed the New York-based owner of two shops not far from the Big Blue Couch for selling pirated CD's and DVD's. Tipped off by RIAA agents, two stores within minutes of where I live were charged: the coffee shop and convenience store near the bus stop on Church Corner (I believe) and a jewelry store owned by the same people near Starbucks.
[transmitted via sidekick hiptop.]
[transmitted via sidekick hiptop.]
Technofetishism XLIX
Workaday World XLIV
New Year's Daze III
Happy new year to Media Dieticians everywhere! I hope the holidays were relaxing and refreshing. May 2K4 bring only the best in happiness, health, love, and good fortune. Today's my last day working at the Scotch & Sirloin building on the edge of the North End in Boston, and Friday, the truck arrives for my move to New York. I'll hit the city late Friday night, and the truck follows Saturday morning. I feel like I'm leaving a lot of loose ends in Boston, so I'm sure to come back, but as of Jan. 3, I officially live in New York. Onward and upward!
Book Wormhole
As I prepare to move to New York on Friday, I am increasingly dismayed by how many books I own. Is this the fate that awaits me? Buried under an avalanche of my own books, comics, magazines, and records? Firefighters removed 50 garbage bags of media detritus to save the man. Me, I'd want some say in what they threw away. But I guess that when you've been buried under your stuff for two days, you don't get a lot of input in the cleaning decisions.
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Comics and Computers VI
IM'ing with my friend Dan just now, we created a couple of ASCII cartoon characters. I offer them to you as an open-source gift of sorts. I introduce to you: The Angry Couple.
#$%gVV is an angry man, head of the household. He wears a top hat and bowtie, and is almost always scowling.
8%g3 is an angry woman, the angry man's wife. She wears a ribbon in her hair and likes to wear dickies.
Here's a sample Angry Couple comic strip:
8%g3: I spend all day slaving over a hot stove
#$%gVV: Hoity-toit!
You are encouraged to make your own and email them to me -- or leave a comment with your ASCII comic creation.
#$%gVV is an angry man, head of the household. He wears a top hat and bowtie, and is almost always scowling.
8%g3 is an angry woman, the angry man's wife. She wears a ribbon in her hair and likes to wear dickies.
Here's a sample Angry Couple comic strip:
8%g3: I spend all day slaving over a hot stove
#$%gVV: Hoity-toit!
You are encouraged to make your own and email them to me -- or leave a comment with your ASCII comic creation.
Event-O-Dex XC
Saturday, Jan. 10: Metropolitan waxes urbane at the Mercury Lounge on East Houston in New York. (Yes, this is my first New York show listing. I guess that means the move is go.)
Monday, December 29, 2003
Magazine Me XLVI
Sunday's Chicago Tribune featured a new book about Cricket magazine. Published on the 30th anniversary of the children's literature periodical, the book considers the history and mission of the magazine -- and the review includes a nice collage of covers.
A subscription is required to access the Chicago Tribune online.
A subscription is required to access the Chicago Tribune online.
Music to My Ears LI
Shimon Rebibo, one of the people who helps manage the Scotch & Sirloin building, is starting a sound production company called ToneLotus. In addition to his own DJ'ing and electronic music, he's worked on ads for Arnold Worldwide and Volkswagen. If you work in advertising -- and you need original music -- try ToneLotus.
Magazine Me XLV
Jason Kottke's my kind of guy: "Starting the first week in January, I'm going to read a different magazine every week for the entire year." Wish I'd thought of that.
Scene and Heard
While the online version of Tom Lounges' Dec. 26 Local Scene column in the Times doesn't map with what ran in the paper, his "Say You Want a Resolution? Then, Stick to It" piece offers some music scene advice worth considering:
Show courtesy to your musical peers. Arrive early and stay late to show support for the other bands on the bill.
Stop being greedy with your fans. Encourage fans to experience other artists on the bill.
Date and marry people who understand your dedication to music.
Give a "baby band" a hand up.
Never date someone within your band. When romances end, usually so does the band.
Keep your sets fresh. If your set list gets stale, even die-hard fans will stop coming out.
Promote your band and your events.
Live up to your word and your handshake.
Think of music first, drinking last. Stop making your first statement, "How many drinks tickets do we get?"
Buy a watch and use it. Get to gigs on time. Start sets on time.
End sets on time. Don't cheat the next band of its time.
The Anchormen used to joke that we put the "punk" in "puntuality," so I can really resonate with the last two items. And most of Lounges' resolutions also make a lot of sense. If you agree to a show, keep the commitment. There's no reason to duck out the week of a show -- and there's absolutely no reason not to show up at all, especially without calling ahead. I laughed a little at the keeping sets fresh comment -- you should always be writing new songs. At the last Anks show, we debuted a song we'd finished the night before -- and it might be our last show ever.
And the first two are especially important. Don't just promote your band's time slot. Promote the other bands. Mention the other bands during your set. And for gosh sake, stick around for the entire show if at all possible. There's nothing worse than an opening band not sticking around after they play -- and there's really nothing worse than a band coming and going with all of its friends. If you want people to hang out and see you play, model that behavior: Hang out and see a band play. People who've seen your band perform will take notice.
The Anchormen used to joke that we put the "punk" in "puntuality," so I can really resonate with the last two items. And most of Lounges' resolutions also make a lot of sense. If you agree to a show, keep the commitment. There's no reason to duck out the week of a show -- and there's absolutely no reason not to show up at all, especially without calling ahead. I laughed a little at the keeping sets fresh comment -- you should always be writing new songs. At the last Anks show, we debuted a song we'd finished the night before -- and it might be our last show ever.
And the first two are especially important. Don't just promote your band's time slot. Promote the other bands. Mention the other bands during your set. And for gosh sake, stick around for the entire show if at all possible. There's nothing worse than an opening band not sticking around after they play -- and there's really nothing worse than a band coming and going with all of its friends. If you want people to hang out and see you play, model that behavior: Hang out and see a band play. People who've seen your band perform will take notice.
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