The session opened with a potpourri of 15 consumer, small business, enterprise, online, on-computer software and hardware, about half from large public companies. No one hit it out of the park at least from where I sit behind home plate.
Speakers seemed to me to be generally less well-prepared than in recent demoes, some reading from Index cards. There was also a notable incursion of the dreaded "corpspeak," using overworked cliches such as, "really it's that simple."
Still, there were several winners in my view, and many of them in tech categories where I spend little or no attention.
A few of them:
Qtech, Inc. reQall. Notes to yourself can be stored on a phone. Sort of letting you send voicemail to your self. It makes a nice list that you can call in to hear. Very simple, easy and useful product. It reminds me of something I was ... but I forget.
Eyejot of Seattle is a video messaging platform. Extremely easy to use. You can take a clip from camera photne or dig computer. Send it off to anyone else on the eyejot network. Can watch it on your iPod via iTunes, MySpace. Consumer apps, but is also compatible with mobile devices for the business user. Trying to combine video chat and email.
Honeypitch of San Francisco gave a somewhat goofy presentation that shows how you can create an almost instant customized, personalized proposal for clients.
Mission Research, of Lancaster, PA, who already produces successful CRM software for nonprofits announced a simpilar on-computer software for small business called SalesWorks. CRM is not my personal favorite app, but this seemed incredibly easy compared with the Salesforce demos that I have suffered through in the past.
Ceelox introduced Scram which lets you send encrypted messages for greater security. You can send it not just by email but also via Instant Messenger. It can also send ads that when downloaded have special messages behind them. These could be sweepstakes numbers, etc. The Ceelox folk say they turn spam into Scram. I am not so sure.
Symantec introduced their Identity Initiative, which the company says will allow users to use their identity online more securely. The company claims that "security 2.0" protects both identity and security. Used old cartoon of a puppy on a PC, boasting that on the Internet, no one knows your a dog." Let's you check out unknown vendors online before you give them you credit card info.
Jaman.com, showed 25 award winning film synpses, none of whom made it into general distribution. They offer a growing library of such films online to subscribers. Uses compacting technology to send you full screen video in "better than DVD quality." Lets you have in-movie commentary and discussion--or without them if you choose. Still in beta, they have 200 films available, with 1000 more coming. Charge $1.99 to rent and $4.99 to buy. This was my runaway favorite in the segment.
Total Immersion, the French Virtual Reality advertising firm who in 2004 gave my lifetime favorite Demo of a helicopter that wasn't there hovering over attendee heads when they inroduced D'Fusion. They were back to show their mobile and consumer version, which this time did not work on the first two tries. The third time we watched a video car chase with Thomasville type cartoon charaters running about. This was actually just a cardboard model brought to life. Then we saw a cartoon charater popout of the presenter sweatshirt. Then the speaker's head got replaced onscreen by Arnold Schwarzennegar. Despite the glitches, it unquestionably brought the most favorable response of the day. Extremely cool.
