My little sandbox on the Web
Yahoo! Smart Ads still kicking
Originally uploaded by Lyndon Wong
Ironically gratifying to see Y! Smart Ads, the initiative I incubated with many wonderful collaborators, featured on this slide about Yahoo’s efforts to maintain a leadership position in display advertising. Part of a shareholder presentation, filed with the SEC in late June 2008, that argues to preserve the company’s present strategy, management team and board of directors.
As of an hour ago, Netflix and Roku unveiled a $99 little wifi-enabled box that brings Netflix to the television. This finally makes one of the original dreams of the broadband internet a pragmatic reality for the mass market (or at least that part of it with broadband in the home).
Here’s some screen captures of one of these devices in action with my personal Netflix queue:
Much like the Netflix service overall, the Netflix TV offering is refreshingly simple, easy-to-use, and grounded in the realities of what can be delivered today. It’s a reflection of everyone involved from Reed Hastings onward, and it’s part of what has made my first couple of months of employment at Netflix so enjoyable.
I look back a decade to my stint with the @Home Network and realize with some nostalgia, that I really have gone back to the future.
With so much social, political and economic turbulence throughout the world, there’s irony and perhaps inspiration in finding the opposite where the term “balkanization” originated. Laura and I recently enjoyed a carefree trip to Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro – stunningly beautiful countries running along the Adriatic coast of the Balkans. It’s difficult to imagine the violence that shook this region in the recent past. All we encountered was dramatic scenery, wonderful food and friendly people.
In preparation for my wedding with Laura this past May, I discovered and retained the services of San Francisco photographer-journalist Ryan Anson. He captured our wedding admirably. We felt honored to work with him, and to do our part to support his broader photographic endeavors to illuminate events in troubled parts of the world.
So I was very happy to see PBS recently feature his multi-year photographic expose of the turmoil in Muslim communities across Southeast Asia: “PBS Frontline: On the Edge of the Crescent“. His highly reflective photo journalism deserves wide distribution.
Way to go Ryan. Thank you for providing us with a provocative and humbling glimpse of the human condition everywhere.
Dodge Caravan SmartAds 2007 Sep 13
Originally uploaded by Lyndon Wong
Yesterday marked a significant inflection point for “The Initiative”. Chrysler has publicly endorsed the merits of dynamic message personalization as part of an online advertising strategy. They did so by confidently associating the launch of the 2008 Dodge Caravan with Yahoo! Smart Ads.
We (the extended Y! Smart Ads team) will make them proud.
CNN segment on Y! Smart Ads
Originally uploaded by Lyndon Wong
In quick succession, the New York Times, NPR’s All Things Considered, the Wall Street Journal, and CNN’s Jim Ledbetter have reported on the recent announcement of Yahoo! Smart Ads.
This counter-point essay in the NYT Bits Blog lays out the challenge and thus opportunity that Smart Ads present to the advertising industry:
It’s gratifying, and a bit startling, to see this idea to increase the relevance of display advertising so quickly capture the imagination of highly intelligent and articulate observers. There’s no turning back, because we certainly would not wish the alternative on anyone.
Oh, I almost forgot… I’m hiring product marketers dedicated to the Yahoo! Smart Ad initiative — the positions are on LinkedIn, and on careers.yahoo.com
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Rocky Mountain Flowers
Originally uploaded by Lyndon Wong
My partner-in-life Laura and I recently honeymooned in the Banff and Jasper national parks of Canada. I can not think of enough superlatives to describe this UNESCO World Heritage site. Up close, and from afar, the entire region exudes epic beauty.
Henry Hung Quartet
Originally uploaded by Lyndon Wong
The above quartet of talented jazz musicians led by Henry Hung deserves much credit for the festive atmosphere of our recent wedding on May 19, 2007. Trumpeter Henry Hung, guitarist Brian Moran, percussionist Micha Patri and the unidentified bassist brought their unique jazz touch to a repetoire spanning Aaron Copland, Cole Porter, Joao Gilberto and the Beatles.
These musicians rocked the house, and even brought my father to his feet in an enthusiastic drum circle. That was no small feat!
Feel the Beat
Originally uploaded by Lyndon Wong
Laura and I pulled off our wedding on May 19, 2007. In celebration of our special moment, we engaged in the traditional drumming of the garbage can lid and cow bell.
We are indebted to our families and friends for helping to make this joyful day possible. I’ve posted some photos taken by guests.
Pope Leighey House interior
Originally uploaded by Lyndon Wong.
Interesting NY Times article this morning about Loren Pope . While the writer focused on Pope’s admirable impact on college counseling, I gravitated to the short mention of Pope’s association with Frank Lloyd Wright.
With further research, I found wikipedia entries on both Pope and the 1200 square foot home Frank Lloyd Wright designed for him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loren_Pope
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope-Leighey_House
What a fascinating individual!