Shelly’s Blog

In the past few weeks, it has become almost impossible to keep up with all of the new features that the foundation model builders are shipping. The engineers are working so fast, by the time you configure the new new thing, there are a half-a-dozen new, new new things you have to deal with. There's a reason. Continue Reading →

Someone asks me about iPhone battery life every single day.  And while I don’t usually write about gadgets and gizmos, I will offer a short chronicle of my external battery life experience. Before we get into what I recommend, here’s how you should determine if you need an external battery: First, turn on everything you Continue Reading →

I am profoundly saddened by Steve Jobs passing. His vision and unique ability to execute changed the world many times over. Some people say that no one ever truly dies until they are forgotten. I believe that this is true. If it is, Steve will live in the hearts and minds of all of loved Continue Reading →

There was a pretty funny article on CNN.com entitled, “Do you obsessively check your smartphone?”  Duh!  Of course I do.  So does everyone else I know.  Elizabeth Cohen, CNN.com’s Senior Medical Correspondent, cites a study in the journal of Personal and Ubiquitous Computing that showed that test subjects checked their smartphones an average of 34 Continue Reading →

Will Walmart’s new video streaming service hurt Netflix?  That seems to be “the” question about this story.  The short answer is, yes. New competition is going to drive prices down.  And increased demand for more (and newer) video content will drive margins down.  Netflix is going to have to answer with excellent marketing and management.  Continue Reading →

My youngest son, Jared, is a rising Junior at Cornell. He’s an Econ major in the College of Arts and Sciences. Before I could post the update about Amazon Text Book rentals, he sent me a txt message telling me it was amazing. If you go to the Cornell book store and purchase your books Continue Reading →

At almost nine-years-old, Leiby Kletzky was flexing his muscle. He wanted to walk home by himself. His father practiced the route with him and, on a fateful day in July, it was agreed that his mother would meet him half way. As you know, the plan went terribly wrong. Leiby got confused, made a wrong Continue Reading →

There was an interesting article on the AP this week entitled, “Israel blocks airborne protest, questions dozens.” It described how Israeli security used social media sites to compile a “blacklist” of undesirable individuals and then prevented many of them from entering the country. It’s a good read if you’re interested in Palestinian/Israeli politics. I have Continue Reading →

“Dear Netflix” is a trending topic on Twitter today and you don’t need to set up any sophisticated social listening software to get the message: @jerrybyers Dear Netflix, I only knew you for a short time. Streaming library is limited and Redbox is a lot cheaper. See ya. #fail The social media backlash to Netflix’s Continue Reading →

According to the Center for Copyright Information fact sheet: “In 2011 the Center for Copyright Information will be formally opened. This newly formed Center will help educate consumers about content theft on the Internet. It will help them to understand the difference between lawful and unlawful online downloading and file sharing. How does it work? Continue Reading →