Ben on David Pogue: Cool new things you can do with your mobile phone

Talk:
David Pogue: Cool new things you can do with your mobile phone


Brief Synopsis:
David Pogue is the NY Times editor for technology, and in this end-of-year talk he describes what he sees as the major steps of innovation in techology over the coming year: the further stages of merging the phone with the Internet.

Funny, witty, and sharply opinionated on which technologies and companies are doing right and wrong, it's a fun, light talk about quite a few current technologies that can make our lives easier:

• Free calls using VOIP... one phone plan from T-Mobile offers this!
• Free 411 via texting or voice recognition
• Free answering of any question at any time
• Free 'call-me' service for times you expect to NE
  
• Automatic transcription of voice mail
  

He also does a good job talking about why the iPhone was revolutionary:

• It broke the old model of cell phone companies holding veto power over every aspect of phone design
• It created the idea of the app store

All this, and plenty more. Many done with live examples, others done with recorded examples, but all done with fun and wit.


Ben on David:
There was one really funny part towards the end where he pretends to be talking to his grandchildren about our current technology... I thought the talk was worth even that one moment. He ends with a song, which started out a bit cringe-worthy, but rounded into dramatic shape by the end.

Really, just a good time while you get to hear about new technology and see where things are headed. Gotta say, though, the business models behind any of this stuff are really not looking strong. I feel like we're still in the 'dot-com' era...


Takeaway:
Probably worth reading this guy's columns sometimes. He's funny and brutal, but he does seem to get it right.


Rating: ****