Windows Live QuickApps: register NOW!

The Windows Live Quick Application program has been launched following the Worldwide Partner Conference to minimize the learning curve of Windows Live services and technologies. If you are even remotely interested in web technologies I think you should take a close look at these applications and join the program as it will provide you with valuable insight as these services become available.

Technorati Tags: Live, Microsoft, Windows Live

Outinnovating on the web

This is the financial results period in the US and yesterday both Yahoo and eBay reported their earnings which generated disappointment as their stellar growth rates and cocaine-like margins are slowly falling victim of gravity. In yet another good article, Richard Waters, the Information Industries Editor for the Financial Times, explains why the web behemoths are facing difficult challenges ahead as smaller companies keep on out-innovating them.

And before you go any further, Apple also announced its financial results for the quarter and they indeed managed to sell 270k iPhones during the first 30 hours, which means that they actually sold 2.5 devices per second nonstop! Even though it is less than expected, they maintained their forecast that 1 million devices will have been sold come October.

Technorati Tags: Apple

Executive lunch with Kevin Turner

Today the Interactive Agencies (AKQA, Frog Design, Monochrome, FullSix, Emakina-Groupe Reflect, aso.) had an executive lunch with Kevin Turner and Alison Watson to discuss Microsoft’s engagement towards the web ecosystem.

Damon and Manuel share their feedbacks on this lunch and explain the next steps going forward. As before, they do it in French, but they do it with style!

Feedback from French Web Agencies @ WPC2007

While seating in a great Windows Vista Ford Mustang, Damon and Manuel share their feedbacks on the WPC2007, Microsoft’s engagement towards interactive agencies and they do it with style! 

Technorati Tags: 7Seven, digital advertising, emakina, e-marketing, FullSix, Groupe Reflect, Microsoft, WPC2007, web 2.0

French Web Agencies @ WPC2007 in Denver

This is our first podcast from Denver, taken during the VIP cocktail party thrown exclusively for the interactive agencies.

AvenueA | Razorfish comments on the recent aQuantive acquisition by Microsoft, what it means to the industry and specifically what it means to Duke, the French agency they acquired earlier this year. Note that Manuel also did a post on this earlier this week.

Technorati Tags: AvenueA Razorfish, digital advertising, Duke, e-marketing, Groupe Reflect, web 2.0

Technology is a means, not an end: usage is!

So I am about to head to the Microsoft Partner Conference with two outstanding people (Damon from FullSix/7Seven and Manuel from EMakina-Groupe Reflect should you wish to know) and as I browse through the list of agencies present I come across Projekt202.

Their baseline pitch is just so true… It is really not technology that matters but rather usage. Give more sense to a phone, add a twist of design and let the users do the rest… it is a non-issue that the network sucks rocks, that the battery will die on you faster than you can say “call me on my fixed line”, all that really matters is that you can relate to what it is you will do with it. And this is easier said than done!

Technorati Tags: 7Seven, digital advertising, digital design, emakina, Microsoft, reflect, FullSix, web 2.0

100 best web applications

WebWare has just announced the results of its poll to pick the top 100 best web applications. The obvious ones are there, and we all use them on a daily basis. It is yet interesting to digg and discover ones unheard of (at least as far as I am concerned) like LastFM which makes it possible not only to listen to music but also to explore the long tail of hidden talents you may like based on your “mass-market” tastes. 

Technorati Tags: Internet, long tail, web 2.0

Can the Internet be saved?

Interesting interview (here) of Jonathan Zittrain following his paper in the latest edition of the Harvard Business Review.

He is currently working on a book called “The future of the Internet and how to stop it” due out next year. Those of you interested may want to check the lecture he gave at the Oxford Internet Institute last April.

Technorati Tags: HBR, Internet, web 2.0

Brands struggle to address consumers’ multiple digital identities online

Back from Cannes, a French article on how the numerous identities we now have when online make it difficult (yet interesting) for brands to address consumers.

Les publicitaires cherchent à comprendre les identités numériques

Blog Bang @ L’Entrepot

Technorati Tags: Blogging, blogbang, web 2.0