Throughout my career in product development I’ve used Asian resources to supplement the work being done in the U.S. to bring new consumer tech products to market more quickly. When I worked at Polaroid in the 80s designing cameras, I used companies in Japan that… Read More »Apple in China, the story of Apple’s capture by China
Low cost manufacturing in China has taken manufacturing jobs from this country, but that does not tell the entire story about the economic impact it has had. (Why it happened and what can be done about it is a column in itself.) That viewpoint misses… Read More »The false economics of China manufacturing
With new tariffs being imposed, our diet of cheap gadgets that we find on Amazon may be coming to an end. Some say we overbuy and don’t need most of the stuff we find there, especially the products from no-name companies in China. But as… Read More »Cheap but useful products found on Amazon
In his first 100 days back in the White House, Donald Trump has dramatically reshaped the landscape of the U.S. tech industry, something I’ve been a part of over my entire career. He’s had an impact like no other president in such a short time.… Read More »Trump upends the tech industry
It seems surreal to be writing about protecting our personal information when crossing the border. That’s something I haven’t thought about since crossing into China from Hong Kong multiple times a year years ago. But today with our border agents suddenly looking at anyone with… Read More »Your Rights as a U.S. Citizen at the Border
The massive tariffs being levied on Chinese goods put Apple—one of America’s most valuable and iconic companies—at serious risk. Nearly 90% of its products are made in China in high-tech factories that span hundreds of buildings and took decades to build, equip, and staff. With… Read More »Apple and the Tariff Trap: Decades in the Making
I always assumed I’m the ideal Amazon customer. I pay $139 for Amazon Prime, make 15 to 20 purchases per month, spend over $5000 per year, use an Amazon Visa for purchases, and use Amazon Pharmacy for my prescriptions. So I was surprised to receive… Read More »So long Amazon
Many of us complain about how much better things were in the good old days. And sometimes it’s even true, especially when it comes to products from big tech. With less competition, these near-monopolies know we have no alternatives. As a consequence, their services, apps,… Read More »It’s not you- tech is just getting worse
Spam email has always been a nuisance, but now it’s now becoming dangerous. It’s being used to steal billions of dollars a year from unsuspecting people like you and me. While I think I’m pretty good at detecting fraud, I’ve been fooled a few times,… Read More »A simple way to detect fraudulent email
Peak Design, the San Francisco company known for pricey but ingenious camera bags, backpacks, shoulder bags, and camera accessories, has introduced their first suitcase, a rollerboard called Roller Pro. Considering the success of its other products, many of its fans have been eagerly awaiting to… Read More »Peak rolls out a new travel bag