Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Don't believe the hype
The truth hurts. Technology stories are often filled with new and shiny things, and we want to believe the hype even when the reality is not so exciting or revolutionary.
Since the season of Christmas goodwill is over, I will be brutally honest and highlight what I think are overrated.
Professional Gamers
Computer games are great entertainment and a few gamers have even managed to turn their hobby into a profitable career. But something is wrong when the media starts calling professional gamers "rock stars". Excuse me, I'd pay to see a rock star like Robbie Williams moon the crowd and rattle the house with his raw showmanship.
But you would have me pay to listen to a scrawny gamer mumble on about his long hours of staring at the computer screen. Gaming rocks when it helps you to unwind after a long day at work or school. But if it adversely affects your sleep, social life and studies, it is time to go out and get some fresh air.
In our drive to build a local gaming industry, I hope people remember that gaming poses as many risks as it provides fun.
Blogs
Blogging is old news. Individuals have been creating homepages for over a decade now. Blogs are no different, just prettier and easier to use. But some people keep harping on about blogs, and worse, treat prominent bloggers like wise gurus, hanging on to their every word or antic. Blogs are a great way to share ideas, digital content and complaints, but they could fade away like all internet fads.
Technically speaking, the oldest blogs in the world would be newspaper columnists who have been dishing out opinions for centuries.
The only difference is that we actually get paid for our trouble.
Tech Awards
Do you know why we usually never give out awards to our favourite tech products? Because the tern "award winning product" has become a joke in recent years.
Pick up any consumer electronics magazine and, chances are, most of the geatured gizmos have been conferred an important title.
"Best value", "best innovation", "silver", "gold", and maybe even "Platinium".
Give me a break. Awards are precious when they are difficult to garner, like those given out by Nobel, Pulitzer and Booker prize committees.
If gadget-makers think that having many flashy awards will help them sell their products better, what about the competitor who has a few dozen accolades from the same publications too?
Recently, a public relations executive from one of the world's biggest tech brands ranted to me: "I have a problem".
"This magazine always gives us awards for our products and now my boss is asking me why we did not get any in this month's issue!"
Source - Reuters.
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Maybe that's why I stopped buying magazines when I realized all that they do is feature the latest gadgets each month. I get more than my fair share online. =)
A blog no matter how liberal or conservative the person is, is still based on a single-minded thought, it is usually biased, inaccurate, sometimes defamatory and mostly instigates thought from others which may or may not be positive.
Whenever you read a blog commenting on a current affair issue, always take it with a pinch of salt.
Even this.
1:13 AM
