Flailing

From Fox News:

Netflix said Monday it has killed its plans to turn its DVD service into a separate business named "Qwikster." 

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings revealed the news via a blog post, reversing a decision the firm announced via a blog post three weeks ago.

While Netflix had to use some strained logic to explain its decision to split the businesses last month, this one was straightforward -- it was not going to force customers to use two different services to rent DVDs and stream video, because customers hated that idea.

There are two prudent courses of action here:


1. CEO Reed Hastings needs to be fired.  Immediately.  He looks like a buffoon and he's effectively lost all credibility.  His actions have seriously wounded - if not killed - Netflix and caused quite a bit of doubt about the company's long-term viability.


2.  Sell!  Sell!  Sell!!!

What Would an Average Customer Think?

From AdAge:

My reaction to the first line: "Sweet, they're rolling back the price hike." Then: "Wait, they're not rolling it back." Then: "Wait, what? Two companies? I'm so confused."

That was almost exactly my initial reaction to Netlix's announcement, too.

Qwik...what????

From AppleInsider:

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings sent a letter to subscribers on Monday, admitting he "messed up" and announcing that it would spin off its DVD and Blu-ray-based mailing business as a new service dubbed "Qwikster." 

The company's changes come in response to a subscriber backlash that was spurred by higher prices for rentals of physical DVDs. Hastings said the pricing for combined streaming, via Netflix, and mailed rentals, from Qwikster, will remain the same as it is currently.

Too little, too late.  And a stupid name, to boot. Way to go, Netflix.

WTF of the day

Seen at the local Wal-Mart.

Is that a ... Reindeer?????

WTF of the Day

From NDTV:

Communications set-up and nuclear button and majority of the White House staff will be in India accompanying the President on this three-day visit that will cover Mumbai and Delhi.

He will also be protected by a fleet of 34 warships, including an aircraft carrier, which will patrol the sea lanes off the Mumbai coast during his two-day stay there beginning Saturday. The measure has been taken as Mumbai attack in 2008 took place from the sea.

THIRTY-FOUR WARSHIPS????????? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Are we declaring war on India or something?

Following the news that THREE THOUSAND people will be traveling to India for this trip at a cost of $200 million per day, it's starting to sound as if Obama and his staff and friends might be seeking exile. Somebody want to tell this guy that our country is broke, please?

Geez.

Lazy, Spoiled, Stupid People vs. Apple

From AppleInsider:

Anyone who ever bought an iPhone on AT&T is now part of a class-action lawsuit taking aim at both the wireless carrier and Apple for their exclusive contract.

The lawsuit, filed in 2007, accuses both the iPhone maker and AT&T of illegally exerting a monopoly over iPhone customers. It alleges that iPhone users are forced to stay with AT&T after their two-year contract expires, because neither AT&T nor Apple will unlock the iPhone for use on another carrier, such as T-Mobile.

You have got to be kidding me with this, right? A company can't even choose who they want their business partners to be anymore? I seem to recall buying several phones over the years - especially from Sprint - that would only work on their network. Or how about phones purchased from Verizon? They have a completely different type of cell service altogether, which means that their phones only work on their network.

What a waste of time.

Smell Like Bruce

From BoingBoing:



Bruce Willis cologne? It's true. Now you can smell just like Bruce Willis (hopefully not the sweaty Bruce in the Die Hard movies, though).

I wonder who thought this would be a good idea. And now? Not ten or fifteen years ago when (let's be honest) he was at his prime?

I love one of the comments: "I'll keep my eye on Big Lots in the next few months and pick this up cheap."

Exactly.

Big thanks to Matt.