Moveable feast: iPad 2 or MacBook Air?

Here’s a dilemma whose answer is potentially rife with geeky politics. Should I buy a 2010 MacBook Air or an iPad 2? Both offer a veritable mobile feast of form and function.

To set the stage, you want to make the move to the 11.6-inch, 2.3-pound MacBook Air (MBA), but you have a hankering for the spanking-new 1.3-pound iPad 2, as well. Because money doesn’t grow on trees, you have to make a choice. Which ultraportable device will it be?

I would submit that it’s not an easy choice. Of course, the iPad 2 is cheaper, but it’s hamstrung by its very essence: a glorified smartphone. On the other hand, its finely tuned multitouch interface makes it great for media consumption, and it’s instantly usable anywhere because of the built-in 3G and feathery weight.

Here are a few big-picture items to consider. For the record, I have both a MacBook Air and iPad and use both every day.

3G: In this respect, the MBA is not the iPad’s equal. The iPad 2 is offered with both Verizon and AT&T 3G. But wait. Apple may be addressing this. A recent patent filing by Apple shows a MacBook with an interesting 3G antenna, akin to the MagSafe connection on MacBooks (see graphic below).

MacBook Air 

(Credit: Apple)

iPad 2 

(Credit: Apple)

Media consumption: The iPad 2 is, in many user scenarios, superior to the MBA for browsing and media consumption because of the multitouch interface. Moreover, all of that has gotten even better with the iPad 2 owing to, among other things, the dual-core processor and improved graphics silicon.

Productivity: The iPad is not designed to be a productivity tool and does not come with a full-blown Mac OS X or full-blown OS X applications.

I’ll offer a few of salient examples. On the 11.6-inch MacBook Air with the full-blown OS X you can run handy little programs like Parallels, which lets you run Microsoft Windows. And, of course, you have the ability to run programs like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. (Yes, the larger MacBook Pros are more suitable for Photoshop). On the iPad, you have to settle for less-than-satisfying app store productivity substitutes.

A 3G/4G MacBook may be in the works. A patent granted to Apple appears to be a MagSafe-like antenna. 

(Credit: Patently Apple)

Price: The final arbiter is often price (mixed with the allure the iPad 2 now has: it seems to be sold out everywhere and everyone seems to want one).

The least expensive MBA is $999, while the most expensive iPad 2 is only $829. And most consumers, of course, opt for the even cheaper 16GB iPad 3G for $629 or the Wi-Fi only version for $499.

On price alone, it’s no contest for many people.

Verdict: The quick-and-dirty verdict… on my bang-for-the-buck index the MacBook Air wins. In short, it’s the best of both worlds–about as close as a featherweight clamshell laptop can get to an iPad.

You get both productivity software and great browsing and media consumption all in one device. And, lest we forget, it’s a lot faster than the iPad. Intel processors crush the iPad’s silicon in any performance benchmark. And this will be even more compelling when Intel’s newest Sandy Bridge processors are added to the Air.

Both are great devices, but it comes down to one being more versatile than the other without being a lot more expensive.

Buffett cautions social-networking investors

Warren Buffett is warning investors to be careful about which social networks they friend with their investment dollars.

Buffett, the chief executive of the Berkshire Hathaway investment empire, warned investors Friday at a conference in New Delhi to be wary of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter–a sector that has recently generated great interest and anticipation on Wall Street.

“Most of them will be overpriced,” Buffett said, according to a Bloomberg report. “It’s extremely difficult to value social-networking-site companies.”

“Some will be huge winners, which will make up for the rest,” he said, without specifying which companies he expects to be winners and which will be losers.

Buffett isn’t alone in his dire warnings of another bubble in the offing. IAC founder and former entertainment mogul Barry Diller recently called the multibillion-dollar valuations of social-networking companies with high user engagement but unproven long-term revenue “mathematically insane.”

Investor buzz for hot Silicon Valley companies that aren’t yet publicly traded–like Facebook, Twitter, and Zynga–has hit a fever pitch and reportedly captured the attention of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The commission is reportedly interested in companies that offer exchanges for privately traded stock and along the way offer a peek at the hypothetical valuations of these otherwise tight-lipped companies.

Facebook, with an estimated value of $50 billion, is expected to be one of those players testing the IPO waters this year. With a user base of 500 million, the social-networking giant is estimated to be recording revenue in excess of $1 billion on the back of its Social Ads program.

Of course, Facebook is still a private company and is under no obligation to reveal its financial details. However, should Facebook hit the threshold of 500 individual shareholders, it will be required to either start trading publicly or at least begin disclosing its financial information, according to rules set by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Twitter, another social-networking company rumored to be looking at a public offering later this year, will generate about $150 million in advertising revenue this year, up from the $45 million it made last year, according to market research firm eMarketer predictions. The microblogging site recently completed a $200 million funding round that gave the company a $3.7 billion valuation.

Two-year-old daily deals site Groupon, which reportedly turned down a $6 billion buyout offer from Google late last year in favor of a hoped-for $25 billion IPO, is estimated to be bringing in $103 million in revenue. LivingSocial, which thinks it could overtake Groupon this year, recently sealed a $175 million investment from Amazon that gave it a $1 billion valuation.

Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color Adds Flash, Email, App Store

Barnes & Noble will open up a new chapter in the development of its Nook Color next month with a firmware update that includes Adobe Flash playback support and email plus an App Store, features displayed exclusively on a Home Shopping Network segment this morning.

 

The segment, recorded by a fan and posted on YouTube, outlines those additions. (See grab below.) In a press release, Barnes & Noble acknowledged adding email, but didn’t mention Flash.

Though the Nook was introduced as a pure play e-reader, the new functionality puts it more in the direction of a tablet, a market dominated by Apple’s iPad and iPad 2, which don’t support Flash. Other Android-based tablets are beginning to support the platform though, including Samsung’s redesigned 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab, which is due in June, and Motorola’s Xoom, which will get full Flash support “in a matter of weeks,” according to a recent report.

On HSN, the updated Nook was listed at $299 with $11.95 for shipping and handling. On the segment, the device boasts a $504 retail value and a normally listed price of $379.95 on HSN. HSN plans to offer other sneak peeks at 5 PM and 9 PM today.

The upgrade comes after Barnes & Noble offered a “minor” tweak in January that added better Wi-Fi connectivity, improved performance and the ability to pinch and zoom the text.

 

Land a Job at Amazon

Amazon‘s business model hit the ground running in the 1990s by revolutionizing retail and e-commerce. In recent years, the company has built on its success, transforming our reading habits and how we store data by selling e-readers and cloud computing services.

Now Amazon is bolstering its workforce to accommodate its growing line of products and services, which have doubled the company’s annual profit in the past three years. Its online jobs board lists 1,900 available positions at its Seattle headquarters alone. That’s twice as many openings the company had last year, reports The Seattle Times.

So how can you get in on the Amazon action that’s already 33,700 employees strong? Here are some tips and resources from the company’s recruiters for landing a job at Amazon.

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Who Is Amazon Looking For?

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Nearly half of the open positions at Amazon’s headquarters are tech jobs, but the company is also hiring recruiters, buyers and product managers at all levels of expertise.

Amazon has offices, fulfillment centers, customer service centers and software development centers throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. There are currently openings in all geographies, says Susan Harker, director of Global Talent Acquisition at Amazon.

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What’s the Application & Interview Process Like?

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The Amazon Careers website lists all open positions by category and location. You can also enter keywords if the drop-down menus don’t quite have what you’re looking for.

After you upload your resume to a specific job posting on the site, it’s up for review. Amazon’s recruiters actively review applicants whose resumes come in through the careers site, and they reach out to those who may be a good fit, says Harker. However, many of them are very active on LinkedIn, and Harker encourages applicants to reach out there.

For most positions, the interview process begins with a phone interview. So, how do you get through that?

“Well-prepared candidates know our business and technologies, and they’re able to talk in detail about anything that is included on the resume,” Harker says.

If it goes well on both sides, candidates are brought on-site for an in-person interview with a hiring manager and a few team members. Matt Goyer, a former software design engineer candidate, says in a blog post that his interview at Amazon HQ took six-and-a-half hours. Interviewers asked questions about his previous experience, technical skills and understanding of current industry trends. Goyer says he prepared by diligently studying books with sample interview questions and problems.

Still, interview experiences vary. The best you can do is “let your passion and enthusiasm show through,” Goyer says. “Don’t let your nerves get the best of you.”

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How Is the Company Culture?

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Amazon’s motto is: “Start with the customer and work backwards.” Employees are expected to focus on the customer in all projects and innovations.

Showing signs of leadership and taking initiative is also important. “Every Amazonian is guided by our leadership principles, which include thinking long-term, innovating and thinking big on behalf of our customers,” says Harker. “We believe that every employee is a leader, whether you’re an individual contributor or a manager of a large team.”

If this sounds like you, it might be worth trying your luck at one of those thousands of current openings. If you do, remember to be prepared, confident and enthusiastic. Show you’re an innovative leader worth paying attention to.

 

Land a Job at Amazon

Amazon‘s business model hit the ground running in the 1990s by revolutionizing retail and e-commerce. In recent years, the company has built on its success, transforming our reading habits and how we store data by selling e-readers and cloud computing services.

Now Amazon is bolstering its workforce to accommodate its growing line of products and services, which have doubled the company’s annual profit in the past three years. Its online jobs board lists 1,900 available positions at its Seattle headquarters alone. That’s twice as many openings the company had last year, reports The Seattle Times.

So how can you get in on the Amazon action that’s already 33,700 employees strong? Here are some tips and resources from the company’s recruiters for landing a job at Amazon.

---

Who Is Amazon Looking For?

---

 

 

 

 

Nearly half of the open positions at Amazon’s headquarters are tech jobs, but the company is also hiring recruiters, buyers and product managers at all levels of expertise.

Amazon has offices, fulfillment centers, customer service centers and software development centers throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. There are currently openings in all geographies, says Susan Harker, director of Global Talent Acquisition at Amazon.

---

What’s the Application & Interview Process Like?

---

 

 

 

 

The Amazon Careers website lists all open positions by category and location. You can also enter keywords if the drop-down menus don’t quite have what you’re looking for.

After you upload your resume to a specific job posting on the site, it’s up for review. Amazon’s recruiters actively review applicants whose resumes come in through the careers site, and they reach out to those who may be a good fit, says Harker. However, many of them are very active on LinkedIn, and Harker encourages applicants to reach out there.

For most positions, the interview process begins with a phone interview. So, how do you get through that?

“Well-prepared candidates know our business and technologies, and they’re able to talk in detail about anything that is included on the resume,” Harker says.

If it goes well on both sides, candidates are brought on-site for an in-person interview with a hiring manager and a few team members. Matt Goyer, a former software design engineer candidate, says in a blog post that his interview at Amazon HQ took six-and-a-half hours. Interviewers asked questions about his previous experience, technical skills and understanding of current industry trends. Goyer says he prepared by diligently studying books with sample interview questions and problems.

Still, interview experiences vary. The best you can do is “let your passion and enthusiasm show through,” Goyer says. “Don’t let your nerves get the best of you.”

---

How Is the Company Culture?

---

Amazon’s motto is: “Start with the customer and work backwards.” Employees are expected to focus on the customer in all projects and innovations.

Showing signs of leadership and taking initiative is also important. “Every Amazonian is guided by our leadership principles, which include thinking long-term, innovating and thinking big on behalf of our customers,” says Harker. “We believe that every employee is a leader, whether you’re an individual contributor or a manager of a large team.”

If this sounds like you, it might be worth trying your luck at one of those thousands of current openings. If you do, remember to be prepared, confident and enthusiastic. Show you’re an innovative leader worth paying attention to.

 

How Much Is Rebecca Black Making Off of Friday?

None other than Lady Gaga recently pronounced Rebecca Black a “genius,” but is Black now a millionaire too?

That’s been the subject of some speculation over the past few days as the video for Black’s so-bad-it’s-good anthem Friday has racked up 53 million views and counting. What kind of cash can Black expect out of that?

According to Forbes columnist Chris Barth, YouTube makes about $1 per thousand page views, of which content creators like Black (and Ark Music Factory, the Los Angeles-based producer that wrote the tune) get 68% of the profit. If that’s the case, then the total take for Black and her producer is about $36,000.

Going by a similar ballpark measure, Black’s iTunes sales of 37,000 in the first week nets out to about $26,000 if 101 Distribution‘s claim that Apple pays $.70 per download is true. Adding those two figures together, Black and Ark Music Factory have netted about $62,000. That’s not including whatever revenues Ark gets for selling aFriday ringtone at $1.29.

Barth, who mistakenly wrote that Black’s song had been downloaded on iTunes 2 million times, had initially proclaimed her a millionaire based on that calculation, but it looks more likely, as Annie Lowrey writes in Slate, that Black is actually a “thousandaire.”

 

Watch the STEREOTYPES S0N

The New Disco is Ready to Group Texting Inside Google

It seems like Google has made a foray into the group messaging space today with Disco, a new iPhone app and website. Well, they sort of have.

The service utilizes the Disco.com domain that Google bought at Domainfest last year for $255K. The Disco.com site went up today and the beta app hit the App Store yesterday, but no one noticed it — until now. And here’s the thing: it was made by Slide.

We’ve been testing the app here at TC HQ and thus far its pretty fast, perhaps because it’s initial build is more bare-bones than fellow group messaging contenders like Fast Society, Beluga and GroupMe. It’s actually pretty similar to the initial build of GroupMe before it added push notifications.

Again, the app is made by Slide, the storied social apps property which Google acquired in August for $182 million. Slide has made iPhone apps before, but the last one was Super Poke, an app created pre-Google acquisition. But Slide is being run as an autonomous business unit within Google, so this app is unrelated to any Google “Plus One” social projects, we hear.

We’ve reached out to Google for comment on the app and will update when we hear back.

How the app will fare competing in the already saturated group messaging space remains to be seen, and you read MG’s take on it here.

In the meantime here’s two fun facts: that’s Slide founder Max Levchin’s Facebook photo in the app screenshot (he’s the one on the bike) and the sample group on the Disco homepage is named GaGa Fan Club, interesting light of Lady Gaga’s recent Google visit.

 

Amazon Planning to Launch Music,Videos Type services

Amazon has spoken with some of the major record companies and Hollywood film studios about creating a digital locker service for their film and music libraries and could announce the plans as early as next week, sources told in News.

Sources from both the film and music industries said Amazon is working on creating a cloud locker service that would enable users to store their existing music, film, and book collections, even content not purchased at Amazon, on the company’s servers.

The online merchant has yet to obtain all the necessary licenses, but Amazon managers told counterparts at the studios and labels that it could announce the service before all the negotiations are complete, the sources said.

An Amazon spokesperson wasn’t immediately available for comment.

Amazon is in a hurry to win the race to the cloud, according to the sources. It has been widely reported that both Apple and Google are busy preparing their own media locker services.

 

Google begins testing Google Music internally

Two weeks ago someone writing at the XDA Developers forum claimed to have accidentally discovered Google Music after installing the Honeycomb version of the Android operating system on a phone. Turns out, that was indeed a working version of the service, the music industry insiders said, adding, however, that the final version could be much different.

Google did not respond to an inquiry from CNET about Google Music.

Technologically speaking, then, Google Music–a streaming service users would access from Web-connected devices–appears close to being ready. However, the sources said the actual launch is being held up by the lack of one vital component. Music.

Google managers told counterparts at the top four record companies last year that they hoped everything would be in place for a launch by late 2010, sources said. More recently, Google tentatively planned to demonstrate the service earlier this month at the South by Southwest conference.

Negotiations with at least some of the top publishers and with the four largest record labels are ongoing, according to sources. The delays are largely due to the complexity of the subject matter. Google is after cloud music rights and not just for songs acquired from Google Music.

Related links
• Study: Streaming music use to explode in five years
• Sony’s Qriocity aims to put Connect, iTunes behind
• ‘Steve Jobs once nixed my music-subscription pitch‘
• Spotify hits 1 million subscribers; U.S. still out

CNET and others have reported that Google is negotiating for the right to store users’ existing music libraries on the company’s servers, the sources said. According to a report in Bloomberg this month, the labels are in similar discussions with Apple about cloud music, or music stored on third-party servers rather than on one’s personal computer or other device.

Licensing rights for digital lockers of this sort is largely uncharted territory for the labels. There are no templates for these kinds of deals lying around and the record companies want to move cautiously as they assess Apple’s and Google’s plans.

What’s certain is the labels want Google to join the digital-music fray. The possibility that an iTunes competitor of Google’s caliber will soon hit the scene has music industry executives giddy.

The past year, digital music has stagnated. All the sector’s excitement and promise seemed to seep out starting two years ago when the second wave of iTunes challengers began to disappear.

Imeem, Lala, SpiralFrog, Ruckus, Project Playlist, MySpace Music, Zune–they followed AOL Music, Urge, and Yahoo Music into oblivion or irrelevancy. They all took their whacks at the fearsome combination of Apple’s software, hardware, and music store, and all lost. It remains to be seen what will come of Sony’s new Qriocity streaming-music service.

Against such a force as iTunes, it can’t hurt to have a challenger come in that’s of equal size. Google is one of the most powerful advertising companies of all time and has a history of providing consumers access to sought-after and cheap content. Unlike many past so-called iTunes killers, Google can also combine a digital-music service with popular hardware (Android-powered phones).

Let’s also not forget that Google has already seen some success in digital music. YouTube’s music videos, which are ad supported and free to viewers, have become a popular way to discover new songs.

It’s anybody’s guess as to when Google Music might finally launch. Unveiling it could make for a nice opening act for incoming CEO Larry Page, who takes over in April. Otherwise, I’m guessing we might see the service in May, at the company’s I/O conference.