Why RedMonk Must Succeed
If you're wondering what tech analyst firms will look like in the future, take a peek at RedMonk. That's a link to their company page but let's face it, faceless corporate pages suck so here's where you should really be going:
And here's why:
We support our subscribers by tailoring our analysis to their needs, helping them understand a world that is changing ludicrously fast, with insights, contexts, and narratives, rather than trying to sell them a place on a quadrant or a pay for play research note, or a library of research they will never read.
Anyone that has worked at a company whose strategy is driven by Gartner magic quadrants instead of customer demand will understand why RedMonk is important.
So how is RedMonk doing financially? I don't know. What I do know is that my aspirations for providing competent and honest technical innovation to solve real problems relies heavily on their model of providing competent and honest analysis being successful somehow.
Roxio is Apple's Bitch
Okay, today's piece of complete bullshit comes from Roxio, makers of the popular CD/DVD burner, Toast:
"Following discussions with Apple, this version will no longer allow customers to create audio CDs, audio DVDs, or export audio to their hard drive using purchased iTunes music store content," notes Roxio in the version 6.1 release notes.
What is Apple trying pull? And why would Roxio ever agree to completely screw their paying customers by placing unwanted restrictions on purchased (read: you own it) music? Just to oblige Apple? Are they getting into bed together or is Roxio just bent on losing customers?
I'm beginning to wonder whether there is any real difference between Apple's iTunes Music Store and the loathful subscription services like Rhapsody, Napster2, and now Yahoo!'s Music Unlimited.