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AJ
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2 weeks ago
in Mobile Industry Review 3.0 is here on Mobile Industry Review
Oh my God you're back.
I was a bit horrible about how MIR 2.0 ended but you were pretty ruthless in cutting off the supply. Anyway all is forgiven.
I can't wait.
Please rant away.
I was a bit horrible about how MIR 2.0 ended but you were pretty ruthless in cutting off the supply. Anyway all is forgiven.
I can't wait.
Please rant away.
1 reply
Ewan
Standby!
3 months ago
in Mobile Industry Review goes subscription-only from 30th March on Mobile Industry Review
You are right 15 quid/month probably isn't very realistic - not when you need more than a thousand punters. Not in the UK anyway.
However, why not pitch it at a lower level but with more people. A few quid a month isn't going to scare off the masses. Well not all of them. It might be feasible - actually I dont see why not - but you would need to ask. Give people a chance. You never know.
I am just shocked, that's all. It seems kind of callous. Maybe there was a build up to this but I definitely missed it.
Couldn't we have a show of hands?
However, why not pitch it at a lower level but with more people. A few quid a month isn't going to scare off the masses. Well not all of them. It might be feasible - actually I dont see why not - but you would need to ask. Give people a chance. You never know.
I am just shocked, that's all. It seems kind of callous. Maybe there was a build up to this but I definitely missed it.
Couldn't we have a show of hands?
1 reply
TerenceEden
There's a problem of a lack of a decent micro-payments system - and the administrative overhead which goes with taking money via standing order etc. That effectively kills off any chance of individual subscriptions. Blog post on this coming soon.
3 months ago
in Mobile Industry Review goes subscription-only from 30th March on Mobile Industry Review
I take your point about having to cover overheads but why like this?
And why are you basing your argument on a model involving only 1,332 readers. I don't know your visitor numbers - but why not try out a model based on a greater number of visitors with a more affordable subscription.
At least you could have asked.
You know some of us have been here since the early days.
And why are you basing your argument on a model involving only 1,332 readers. I don't know your visitor numbers - but why not try out a model based on a greater number of visitors with a more affordable subscription.
At least you could have asked.
You know some of us have been here since the early days.
1 reply
Ewan
This didn't happen because I want to cover overheads. It's because I could no longer continue the overheads.
(15 quid x 1,332 readers (plus yourself) gives 20k/month budget to competently deliver MIR as it was.)
We could have asked, and you'd have said no. And we move on.
(15 quid x 1,332 readers (plus yourself) gives 20k/month budget to competently deliver MIR as it was.)
We could have asked, and you'd have said no. And we move on.
3 months ago
in Mobile Industry Review goes subscription-only from 30th March on Mobile Industry Review
WTF. Everyone is being really polite but I think this is a major sell-out and it tanks.
1 reply
Ewan
I can't let some of these 'sell out' comments slide -- AJ, it cost me between 16-20,000 pounds to deliver MIR to you and the other few hundred thousand readers on a monthly basis. The rest of the team gave their time either for no cost or for a small amount of expenses, again, funded by me. Now and again a company would put their hand in their pockets to buy a small amount of advertising or sponsorship. Now and again.
I've done a lot of work around trying to work out a model for covering the cost of bringing MIR to you every month. I failed -- it didn't work. I'm delighted that one company put its money where it's mouth is and said 'yes, please'. The fact that they choose to demand exclusivity is just the way it goes. They're entitled to do so. They're paying.
Let's be clear. We could deliver you MIR -- in better form than we have done to date -- if you and 1,332 others were prepared to pay £15 per month for Dan, Ben, James, myself and the rest of the support infrastructure. But you're not. We didn't even bother asking.
You're most welcome to surprise me with your offer to pay.
But getting 1,332 others to join you? Difficult. Very difficult.
So fiscal reality hits us all in the face -- and we move on.
I've done a lot of work around trying to work out a model for covering the cost of bringing MIR to you every month. I failed -- it didn't work. I'm delighted that one company put its money where it's mouth is and said 'yes, please'. The fact that they choose to demand exclusivity is just the way it goes. They're entitled to do so. They're paying.
Let's be clear. We could deliver you MIR -- in better form than we have done to date -- if you and 1,332 others were prepared to pay £15 per month for Dan, Ben, James, myself and the rest of the support infrastructure. But you're not. We didn't even bother asking.
You're most welcome to surprise me with your offer to pay.
But getting 1,332 others to join you? Difficult. Very difficult.
So fiscal reality hits us all in the face -- and we move on.
8 months ago
in Do I resent my mobile? on Mobile Industry Review
Definitely with you there on that point. There are definitely times when I don't want to be contacted. It is just so hard to switch the thing off. I am getting better at it but there is still room for improvement. I hate the idea that other people think they can contact any time, any place etc etc.
1 reply
Samantha
It's horrible isn't it?
I think I might see how I would handle a week without my beloved device!
I'll see!
Samantha.
I think I might see how I would handle a week without my beloved device!
I'll see!
Samantha.
8 months ago
in Completely, totally FAILED by Google Maps and Blackberry in Paris on Mobile Industry Review
Gare du Nord isnt that bad although, granted, there are quite a few homeless people nowadays for some reason. But I seriously doubt you would have come to any harm at all. And it is not that far from Notre Dame at all.
Most of the robbing that gets done in any city is usually in the wealthier areas.
Most of the robbing that gets done in any city is usually in the wealthier areas.
1 reply
Ewan
Good feedback!
9 months ago
in Carphone Warehouse: 40 days/nights of pain - follow-up on Mobile Industry Review
I dont mean to be unsympathetic but mobile insurance is a waste of money in my experience. Companies like Craphone Warehouse see it is a revenue generator and always tend to act surprised and a bit affronted when someone actually makes a claim. It would be far better to put those premiums aside and use the balance to pay for a new phone as and when necessary.
1 reply
9 months ago
in iPhone 3G still doing well in the UK on Mobile Industry Review
The firmware update is released tomorrow AFAIK. This is supposed to sort out earlier issues with battery life etc etc. I still haven't updated my firmware from 1.1.3 but I am hoping this might be the one. Fingers crossed anyway.
2 replies
10 months ago
in Mobile Industry Review Show - episode 19 on Mobile Industry Review
It is all very well slating email on the iPhone but you dont compare it with anything else. I have an old iphone and I dont know of any device's email app that comes close, certainly none of the Nokia's I have ever used. I could go out and try every phone on the market but that is kind of what I hope you guys can do.
NB The number of posts on this site seems to be inversely proportional to the number of contributors.
Nice show though.
NB The number of posts on this site seems to be inversely proportional to the number of contributors.
Nice show though.
2 replies
Ewan
You're right, we'll compare in future. I didn't help with the production
though -- I forgot to bring my Blackberry. I think the piece stands on it's
own two feet though -- what you saw there was me trying to send a mail to
Ben via my iPhone...
though -- I forgot to bring my Blackberry. I think the piece stands on it's
own two feet though -- what you saw there was me trying to send a mail to
Ben via my iPhone...
Ben Smith
AJ - Agreed and I screwed up the 'repost' by not having push switched on. The iPhone has a good few problems (battery, crashing apps), but I think e-mail is actually one of the better experiences. Ewan's going to argue that the Blackberry does it better and although I've never been a BB user, I expect he could well be right, but it comes at a cost (for enterprise users who need a special server) or relies on BIS in 'consumer' mode which has been unreliable, ties you to a special BB tariff with your operator often and looks like arse (IMHO excepting the Bold possibly).
