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SVUGA logoThe listing of Silicon Valley User Group Activities is now included as part of this SVCS.NET website.  You may still reach the listing at SVUGA.ORG or by clicking on either the logo at the left or on the 'Meetings' tab above.

NAB 2013 Revisited

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 5:38pm — AndyMarken

Most meaningful conventions can't be covered in one shot.  NAB is certainly no exception, especially this year when the industry is struggling to get people all the content they demand on all the devices they use and still monitize all their investment, their work.  It was drama on the screen, on the stage, on the show floor.  People are watching more of the content on all of their screens.  Doesn't matter if it's available on the huge HD set in the family room they'll watch it somewhere else in the house or watch a different show on their device while they're watching the big screen.  But the goal for industry players is the same regardless of what, when, where you watch it.  Making money...that's getting trickier.  Read more...  

NAB 2013 Wrap

Fri, 04/26/2013 - 1:39pm — AndyMarken

Every time I come away from a big show I have to give myself a reality check and recall it was only a few years ago I waxed on and on about 3D TV and netbooks. Saw where that went right? Right. But NAB this year was freakin awesome. Cameras are getting to the point that any indie can afford them. The industry fatcat days are gone and they ain't coming back so the people who will survive are working harder/smarter. Broadcast folks welcomed the telcos in with forced smiles and there were some who weren't happy with competition at all. But with all the 4K-8K content it is still all about storage and that cute thing called "the cloud." We'll tie up all the loose ends...next week.
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Barlow's Newsletter

Thu, 04/18/2013 - 8:36pm — Webmaster

Moving from a HDD to a SSD
Gene Barlow, User Group Relations

Gene Barlow photoA couple of years ago, I bought a new laptop computer that I just love. It is a small Lenovo ThinkPad X120e computer, about the same size as a tablet, but it has a full keyboard and runs familiar Windows software. This lightweight unit does everything I want it to do in a portable design, and was fairly inexpensive (less than $400) to purchase. As I said, I love this small laptop computer. The only bad thing is that it is slightly slower than I wanted. At the price I paid, I expected this to be the case. Now, a couple of years later, I wish it were a bit faster. I looked at the newer ThinkPad models that were similar in size to this model. Yes, they are faster, but to buy one would cost me over $900 today. I will live with the slower speed to avoid this major expense at this time.

Social Chaos

Mon, 04/15/2013 - 4:49pm — AndyMarken

Social media is a great way for 1:many conversations/sharing. It's a great marketing/service support tool. It's a great way to get into a verbal brawl. Face it, it's fun to watch the drama unfold as long as it isn't you that's being hammered. You know, "she beats her significant other," "I don't beat my significant other." And now you're wondering if there's some truth and who's right, who's wrong. The discussion gets so heated that the opponents forget the whole world is watching/listening. Need a good example just see what happened at the end of a very successful game developer conference. Maybe that's why most publicists/communications/marketing folks only send messages out and if you ask a question...silence.  Read more... 

2020

Thu, 04/11/2013 - 3:29pm — AndyMarken
The picture for new PC sales doesn't look bright and the estimates are that new tablet sales will also slide. PC sales were down 1st time in years and tablets took a breather  Smartphones are still going strong and we're eagerly awaiting the new smartwatches.  But maybe the constant quest for a new thing is reaching the end of the line with everything being "in the cloud."   Don't explain it to us because everyone (including me) has an idea of what it is...including your friendly government agency.  It's OK as long as you don't think about it too much!   Read more... 

Overwhelming

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 1:32pm — AndyMarken

The content (entertainment) industry is going crazy. It's all coming at you by cable, satellite, Internet, smart TV, computer, tablet, phone. There are only a couple of problems: 1) I don't really watch that much; 2) I sorta am used to it being free or cheap; 3) somehow ads look bigger, more intrusive on my device; 4) who and how is any money going to be made; 5) I like Over The Top viewing but gawd finding one thing you want is like drinking from a firehose. NAB should clear everything up but I'm pretty busy playing games!!!    Read more... 

Diversity

Mon, 04/01/2013 - 4:14pm — AndyMarken

GDC  2013 was the dramatic rise of indie developers, smartphone/tablet apps and a whole lot of social media/session ego matches.  Forget the last item because it was only a distraction to what was a very informative, enlightening learning opportunity for a whole lot of men and women.  There are opportunities everywhere for young and old to show off their creativity and gaming expertise.  Soon there will be no time to watch TV...anywhere.   Read more... 

No Game

Tue, 03/26/2013 - 6:28pm — AndyMarken

GDC is one of the few events we go to where people should be having loads of fun...it's gaming for gosh sake!  Instead it's a bunch of young men/women wanting to scrape very bit of knowledge and insight from the speakers they can so they can make the next big hit. It just started so we aren't certain what is going to come out of the conference but we'll summarize all of that at the end.  Read more... 

 

All Hands

Thu, 03/21/2013 - 7:25pm — AndyMarken

Being boss means making the tough decisions.  Being the boss of a "recovering" company is even tougher.  Being a female boss of a recovering company is tougher than tough when everyone wants you to succeed but also can't look away in the hopes of the company foundering on the rocks.  We're not sure about Marissa Mayer but maybe with everyone helping.... Read more... 

Personal Clouds

Fri, 03/15/2013 - 2:11pm — AndyMarken

Have you noticed that when people talk about storing in the Cloud the next breath is about all that rich, beautiful Big Data.  Then they also talk about how much fun the hackers, whackers, cyberbadguys/gals are having and that's even before they say - and yes there are 35 countries (at least) out there searching all the stuff for someone's really good stuff.  Yes we work in the public/private cloud (pretty hard not to) but when it's sensitive personal/family information we prefer a personal cloud...scaled down version we have at home.  But go ahead use that ultra cheap Big Cloud...what could happen????  Read more... 

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