This has been a year of lost. Four of my friends and former colleagues have died, way before their time. A remarkable man left us last Sunday. My friend, Michael Johnson, died at his home in South Africa. I attended a memorial Tuesday evening on Zoom. I think there were 20 or more attendees, friends … Continue reading
Category Archives: Technology
Goodbye and thanks Doug Semon
When I decided to write a book about my high tech journey, I had several objectives. One of those was to document the creation of residential broadband in which I played a leadership role. I wanted to tell my personal story, but I also wanted to make sure that the people who contributed to its … Continue reading
My book in the making
Below is a description of sorts about I book I am working on. It is actually a great deal of work as I have to conduct a lot of research and assure its accuracy. Now, I need some feedback. I am concerned that the companies, people and events may not be relevant to today’s readers. … Continue reading
Drinking the kool-Aid (how billions were lost creating PDAs)
As I try to decide if I should write a book, I have been reading or rereading various books about the computer industry. I just finished Jerry Kaplan’s Startup, written in 1995. Jerry founded GO Corporation in 1987 to develop pen-based computers, and I still think the book has value today for those starting technology-based … Continue reading
Seeds of Discontinuity
A small part of the Apple iOS 12 announcement got me thinking: Live Listen. I love spotting little pieces of new technology that can profoundly affect the evolution of human culture: I call them Seeds of Discontinuity. For example, I vividly remember seeing a flip phone in 1999 that had an embedded camera. … Continue reading
Intel: How a vein of gold turns into a big hole
Selling Silicon By the Ton When I joined Intel in 1984, it was primarily a semiconductor memory chip company. I use to joke that it sold silicon by the ton, but that was true. Then, the memory business was under attack by the Japanese because it was a commodity, and the Japanese were just … Continue reading
Jean-Patrick Grumberg interviews Avram Miller on Net Neutrality
Periodically, my friend, Jean-Patrick Grumberg and I get together at a Cafe to chat. Jean-Patrick likes to work articles that he publishes on very successful French blog while having breakfast. I join him on occasions, but I just have coffee since I get up much earlier than he does (or maybe anyone else) and would … Continue reading
Your wrist: The most important real estate on the earth and why Apple wants to own it now.
Apple failed to achieve a leadership role in the era of the connected PC. But then Steve Jobs realized that the most valuable piece of real estate was not always located in your home. No, it was in your pocket or your purse. With the launch of the iPhone in 2007, Apple changed the world of technology and in the process became one of world’s leading companies. Soon there will be a new battle for real estate: A battle for what might be the most valuable real estate of all, your wrist. Apple fully intends to own it.
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Announcing Pluto.tv – Lay back and enjoy
Today, Pluto.tv was officially launched. I am proud to be an early advisor and investor in this company. Those of you that read my blog frequently will know that I have been following and in some cases participating in the restructuring of the medium we call TV. I am pretty excited and decided to give it a plug on my blog. Please think of this post as an infomercial because it kind of is.
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Mixed emotions about the potential acquisition of Time Warner Cable by Comcast
So I while I am proud that my old friends at Comcast have done so well, I will be disappointed if Comcast ends up with the Time Warner Cable business. I would have preferred that Google, Apple, Microsoft or even Intel would have bought it. Then the model could be changed because they would aggressively adopt new forms of content programing and commerce Continue reading