David Lidsky's Blog, page 3364
January 6, 2014
What You Need To Know About Engineers To Do A Mobile Startup
If you want to work with software people, you need to understand how they see the path to success.
The App Store released its "Best Of 2013" just before Christmas, showcasing some of the best iOS developers in the industry. Every year, thousands of would-be CEOs see apps on that list and resolve to join the ranks, only to be frustrated by the iOS development process, or working with developers generally. So, what do non-technical people need to know to make a mobile startup work?
Why Do I Suck So Badly At Technology?
On a hunt for answers, I learned we Luddites may be psychologically different from early adopters and programmers.
When I look at my iPhone, I feel like a dog watching a movie. What I see is flat and flickering and usually a snooze. For me, the real world--the physical world, plus ghosts--was complicated enough without a whole new world of deep stuff to worry about. My already-cluttered mind doesn't feel like it has space for whatever was at work in there. I assumed it was powered by avatar sex parts. Without really choosing to be a Luddide, I began to observe (as things like iPhones became more prevalent) that I preferred to know less about their world than more.
January 5, 2014
Rap Genius In Google's Good Graces, Don't Call It A Comeback
Witness the power of Google to flip a switch and destroy or revive a business.
After wagging its swag in the face of Google, Rap Genius, the "Talmud for the Internet" is back in the search giant's good graces. Co-founder Mahbod Moghadam IM'd Fast Company (a frequent--and welcomed--occurrence) to let us know. When he did so, it looked as if the correction hadn't yet kicked in. We Googled "don't call it a comeback"+ll cool j, lyrics to L.L. Cool J's 1991 hit "Mama Said Knock You Out." (Note: That link should help Rap Genius's Google rank--they did not ask us to add it.) On Saturday morning, here's what came up.
January 3, 2014
The IPO Wasn't The Only Big Thing Twitter Did Last Year
Twitter made some swift changes in 2013 that will come to fruition this year.
Once Twitter announced its IPO, the company began dominating the tech and business headlines. Amid concerns of the company still being in the red, investors gravitated toward the initial offering. While Twitter's ability to pull in global revenue remains a concern, the company racked up some key acquisitions this year, improved its advertising offerings, made significant changes to its platform across all apps, and added 11 new Twitter Certified Products to extend the platform's value for businesses with more engaging experiences.
Armchair Astronomers Help Discover Why Galaxies Stop Producing Stars
Regular people now have the chance to conduct scientific research with the professionals. All you need is time, enthusiasm, and some new crowdsourcing software.
Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is on a crash course with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy. The collision won't occur for around 5 billion years but it's possible that such crashes, or mergers, play some part in "quenching" star-forming, spiral galaxies, turning them into dead elliptical galaxies. The theory suggests that this process takes place, but scientists are still in the process of obtaining observational evidence to support it.
What You Need To Learn To Code In 2014
There are tons of services that will teach you to code quickly, but you're more likely to master programming if you prepare yourself. Here's how.
"Everyone should learn to code!" exclaimed the Internet in 2013. While some disagreed, services like Codecademy and Code School are making the learning-to-code experience different from the days of reading thick programming books and attending classes.
Where I Think Gaming Will Go In 2014
People outside the gaming industry underestimate just how voraciously it's growing--and the boom has only just begun.
In the 1980s I occupied a front-row seat for the drama that was the Seattle tech boom. Friends and family created successful startups in the '80s and the go-go '90s. (My then-husband, an excellent entrepreneur, was a cofounder of two of those startups: Aldus and Visio.) After close observation of the rollercoaster IPOs and acquisitions and later the dotcom disappointments, I like to think I developed an eye for trends. In my own industry, video gaming, I'm starting to see a few.
A Former Mars Rover Scientist Says The Boomer Generation Could Be Independent Forever
How wearable sensors and artificial intelligence could help some people live more normal lives.
When the Mars Rover was in production in the '90s, NASA senior computer scientist Rich Levinson noticed a limitation in its ability to make reactive decisions. The Rover could avoid falling off a cliff, but it didn't have the capability to backtrack or plan other routes of navigation. That's when he learned about a little-known term and much-needed brain process called "executive function."
Here's All Your Favorite Monty Python Bits In One Remix
Eclectic Method marks the comedy troupe's upcoming reunion the best way it knows how.
When legendary comedy troupe Monty Python announced it was reuniting for five show run at London's O2 Arena this summer, people got excited. So excited that tickets for the first night at the 20,000-capacity venue sold out in less than 44 seconds.
Big Brands Are Counting On Startups To Guide Them Through What's Cool At CES
At the world's largest and most bewildering trade show, brands like Unilever and Univision are sending their C-suite execs out with startup founders.
Almost anyone who has ever been to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas knows it has a mixed reputation. Sure, it's where tech innovations like high-def TV and the Blu-ray disc debuted. But it can also be a logistical nightmare as 150,000 attendees struggle to discover the latest tech trends while managing a sea of hotels, convention booths, taxis, and parties.
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