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innovation+trends unpacked™ by Michael Tchong

What’s ubercool?

01/18/2013

That’s a question we perennially try to answer. It may refer to a product or service that’s slick or innovative. But we also want superior performance, and, in this day and age, it should deliver value, backed by superb customer service. Those requirements are not always met but we sure seek to satisfy them all.

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CRM on the Mac

03/14/2013
UPDATE: My CRM quest continues. I’ve started using Zoho CRM but its interface is dated and confounding. Contactually feels new but it’s using an irritating alert to get unconvinced users like me to pay $20/mo. I don’t think it’s worth $20/mo. right now. I find their red alert so irritating, I’ve stopped using Contactually.

I’ve been testing a simple FileMaker contact solution but it’s too basic for most of my needs. I’m still largely dependent on Cobook and occasionally use Bento but that one has fallen out of favor too. Can anyone help me build a good one? I have the design all spec’ed out, all I need is a hacker.

The Mac is weak in database management, especially in CRM-type solutions. Managing contacts is an arduous task on the Mac, particularly now that everyone knows that social networking is absolutely essential to your success.

Why is maintaining a customer, or even a personal database, so difficult on the Mac? A large part of the blame lies with Apple itself. This innovative company provides a lackluster, but free, contact management tool, Address Book (now called Contacts), as part of all MacOS X operating systems.

Because Apple’s contacts manager is capable enough to keep most users happy, few developers have taken on the challenge of building a truly useful database manager for the Mac. Yet as most power users know, Contacts is one of the weakest elements of Apple’s ecosystem, one that leaves a lot to be desired.
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GlobaTrac Trakdot

01/10/2013

If you’re worried about your luggage full of digital gear, get a GlobaTrac Trakdot ($50, plus one-time $9 activation fee and $13 annual service fee). The Trakdot updates the owner of the luggage’s location via app, SMS, e-mail or Trakdot site.

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LG HOM-BOT 2.0

01/10/2013

At CES Samsung and LG launched new versions of their robot vacuum cleaners, the LG version is the LG HOM-BOT 2.0, which now requires a WiFi network and includes extended brushes for better corner cleaning plus improved cameras and sensors to avoid obstacles.

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Lego Mindstorms EV3

01/10/2013

The robotics revolution is fully underway. Lego Mindstorms EV3 kit ($350) builds 17 different robots. The Mindstorms EV3 kit adds an infrared sensor to give robots the ability to detect various objects. The system runs on Linux-based firmware and sports USB and SD ports. A 3D virtual instructional guide, designed by Autodesk, is now available for the iPad.

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Canon PowerShot N

01/10/2013

While the digicam field is in a bruising fight with mobile phone cameras, the Canon PowerShot N ($300) shows that innovative design is still possible. This small package features a 2.8-inch flip-up LCD and built-in Wi-Fi.

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LaCie Blade Runner

01/10/2013

LaCie is one of the few tech companies that understands the experience economy. Their latest product is the LaCie Blade Runner hard drive ($300) designed by Philippe Starck. Blade Runner is a 4TB USB 3.0 drive dressed in heavy-gauge aluminum and sporting an LED power button shaped like Starck’s “plus” logo.

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