Consumer Reports Bends Some Phones

Have you heard of the incredible bending iPhone?

Thought so.

Well how about putting some science in to the question?  That is what the folks over at Consumer Reports has done.

The result shouldn't be surprising to anyone who has held a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus (my 64GB iPhone 6 arrived on Friday, I like it).  These are thin and will yield under pressure.  No doubt these could be bent in half if someone tried.  How bad is it exactly?

Pretty comparable to the competition but more prone to bending than the previous iteration of the iPhone.

Read more here:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/09/consumer-reports-tests-iphone-6-bendgate/index.htm

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0156 Encrypted Phones Now Default

Very good read over on Boston Globe.com about the new phones coming out that block law-enforcement from accessing the phone.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/09/27/post-snowden-iphone-draws-ire-security-agencies

Here is a snippet from that piece:

The phone encrypts emails, photos and contacts based on a complex mathematical algorithm that uses a code created by, and unique to, the phone’s user — and that Apple says it will not possess.

The result, the company is essentially saying, is that if Apple is sent a court order demanding the contents of an iPhone 6 be provided to intelligence agencies or law enforcement, it will turn over gibberish, along with a note saying that to decode the phone’s emails, contacts and photos, investigators will have to break the code or get the code from the phone’s owner.

Personally I'm all for this kind of personal property protection.  Access to people's smartphones has been far too open until now.  Something as personal as these devices should be considered closed.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0155 Apple Pay Skepticism

I don't consider myself an Apple lover.  I'm company agnostic when it comes to technology.  Pragmatism rules for me.  If it works and ads value for me I will consider buying it.  I don't care who makes it.  I have had iPhones since the first incarnation.  Own an iPad Air.  I have a Windows 8 tablet, a Nexus 7 Tablet, three computers connected at home running Windows 7, and I don't know what else.  So when Apple makes a move I look at the successful history, recent history, of the company but then I look at their product.

Apple Pay seems like a very overblown announcement to me.

One other writer has a similar take:

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/why-im-not-sold-on-apple-pay

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Apple seems to have solved some of the key challenges that have dogged other attempts at mobile payments. The company has the merchant banks and card issuers on board, with all the major players supporting Apple Pay. Additionally, the Touch ID fingerprint scanner and Passport wallet technology solve one of the key issues with mobile wallets, where complex passwords or convoluted apps created a payment process that was more difficult than traditional plastic. Therein lies the rub for any new mobile payment technology: it needs to be easier than plastic.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Durbin Comments on Interchange

Richard Durbin says the Federal Reserve acted in a manner that did not follow the law he helped craft to lower interchange fees for debit card swipes.

The NRF.com site has a story on this piece:

https://nrf.com/news/durbin-says-fed-set-debit-swipe-cap-too-high-and-consumers-have-suffered

Here is a snippet from that piece:

“The amendment was carefully crafted and its purpose was clearly expressed,” Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said. “Unfortunately, the Board’s final rulemaking failed to sufficiently follow the text and purpose of the law.”

“Because interchange fees are ultimately borne by consumers in the form of higher retail prices, consumers have suffered as a result,” Durbin said.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0154 Personalization Problems

The folks over on CMO.com have another excellent read about personalization.

It seems to me they nail this right on the head.

http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Why-Marketers-Still-Havent-Mastered-Personalization/1011220/1

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Marketers have heard it loud and clear: Personalization is important. But they’re still struggling to execute it. A critical issue? They haven’t mastered the development of a single customer viewpoint, and according to a July 2014 survey by Forbes Insights in association in Sitecore, fragmented and siloed data systems were a key factor preventing this.

Senior executives polled in North America said their companies were using an average of 36 different data-gathering systems and vendors—and some used more than 100.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0153 Modern Convenience Stores

This article is a week old but I just found it.  Therefore, it is the best read of the day.

Nielsen has an interesting study on consumer behavior in Europe and the rise of the modern convenience store.  In the United Stated we've seen big-box retailers such as Wal-mart and Target join the ranks of the small footprint store.  Very interesting observations in this article.

http://www.nielseninsights.eu/articles/the-rise-of-the-modern-convenience-store-in-europe

Here is a snippet from that piece:

The slow economic recovery in Europe hasn’t delivered as much positivity as consumers had expected, keeping optimism in short supply. Consumers remain cautious, and the economic turbulence of the last five years has changed shopper behaviour in the process. In short, shoppers have grown increasingly focused on value, cost and convenience—attributes that have sparked expansion in the discount trade channel, the development of smaller store formats in many countries and the creation of a new online channel in some countries.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Subway sides with Softcard (ISIS)

Pretty big news in the world of mobile payments as the on life support company known as Softcard, previously branded as ISIS until that organization in the Middle East began making so much noise, has landed Subway for mobile payments.

http://www.mobilepaymentstoday.com/news/subway-goes-with-softcard-for-mobile-payments-platform/

A very good analysis over on Mobile Commerce that matches my own thinking:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/apple-pays-halo-effect-evident-in-subway-softcard-partnership

Here is a snippet from that piece:

The excitement around Apple Pay is helping to shine a new light on NFC-enabled mobile payments solution Softcard – previously known as Isis – which had been languishing, as evidenced by a new deal to support mobile payments and loyalty at Subway.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant