10 posts and columns on fanboy

New Yahoo CEO (And BoSox Fanboy) Scott Thompson Speaks: It’s Still “Early Innings”

in News on January 4 at 9:28 am PT

Meet the man who hopes to be the Carlton Fisk — the baseball legend who was nicknamed “The Commander” — of the troubled Internet giant.
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SB Nation Sacks AOL in Raid of Former Engadget Team for Competing New Tech Site, As AOL Zeroes in on New EiC

in News on April 3, 2011 at 7:34 pm PT

Jim Bankoff, the fomer AOL exec responsible for buying Engadget for the Internet portal, has grabbed eight staffers who had recently left the huge tech site amid tensions, in order to start a new gadget property for his SB Nation sports and news platform. The site–which is still unnamed and will be run by outgoing Engadget Editor-in-Chief Josh Topolsky–will debut sometime in the fall. Meanwhile, AOL has zeroed in on a new leader to replace Topolsky.

News Byte

Upscale Nerd Newsletter GeekChicDaily Raises $2 Million

in Media on January 25, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

Yep, you can still raise money for email newsletters in 2011. GeekChicDaily, aimed at the fanboy contingent that spends heavily on movies, action figures and the like, has raised $2 million in a round led by Hollywood producer Joe Roth and Microsoft veteran Mike Slade. Also on board: Clear Channel/Pilot Group’s Bob Pittman, a newsletter kingpin (Daily Candy, Thrillist, etc.) who helped the company raise $1.5 million last year.

News Byte

Ayn Rand Fan Writes Tribute Viewable Only Using Google Earth

in News on August 13, 2010 at 12:35 pm PT

Never underestimate the power of self-determination. Ultimate fanboy Nick Newcomen drove 12,238 miles and recorded his path with a GPS device to write the words “Read Ayn Rand” across 30 states. Much like a skywriter would do, he mapped his route, then turned on the logger when he wanted to “write” a letter. When the data was loaded into Google Earth, it produced his message.

President Clinton Talks About His Internet Legacy (BTW, He's an iPhone Dude, While the GOP's #41 Is a BlackBerry Teen)

in News on March 18, 2010 at 12:38 am PT

Here is a video I did of former President Bill Clinton talking at an event related to the 25th anniversary of the first .com registration. Clinton gave a speech first–which was, inexplicably, about health-care legislation and global warming. But after Clintion was done, he sat down with VeriSign CEO Mark McLaughlin to talk about a range of Web-related topics, in a very amusing exchange.

Countdown to Ecstasy? Apple iPad Pre-Orders Begin at 5:30 am PT Today (Post-It Note for Now!).

in News on March 12, 2010 at 3:07 am PT

BoomTown is always up at 5:30 am PT, but now I will apparently be joined by twitch-fingered Apple fanboys waiting for the iPad pre-order rush to begin this morning. There’s a “We’ll be back soon” Post-It on the site right now. Getting the actual magic tablet into your grubby mitts will have to wait three more weeks until April 3, when the Wi-Fi-only version comes out, followed soon by the 3G one.

Invasion of the iPad Snatchers: My First Jobs Keynote Ever

in News on January 25, 2010 at 12:06 pm PT

After all these years of covering tech, BoomTown is a little embarrassed to admit that I have never attended in person one of the legendary keynote speeches delivered by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. This year I finally said yes–to an invite to the Wednesday event, at which a new tablet computer is likely to be unveiled to the fervent Apple faithful, but it immediately made me think of the iPods, oops, pods, in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” Note to self: Do not fall asleep.

Yes, BoomTown Will Overpay for Apple's Pretty Version of the Kindle (Twice!)

in News on May 8, 2009 at 6:00 am PT

Oh dear, I always forget that the camera is turned on 24/7 these days, knows all and sees all and then sticks it on YouTube. Like this moment for me that came during a speech I gave last week at the Software & Information Industry Association’s NetGain conference in San Francisco, which was titled, “How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Tweet: What Interactivity Really Means for Real Businesses.” In 140 words or fewer, I insult Amazon’s Kindle, Apple and even myself for being a Steve Jobs fanboy.
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