SemperAptus.com - The Issue of Gadget Envy... (Editorial)

Featured Article

Don't Be Shy -
Show 'Em Your DNA!
Put your DNA on a shirt
or sweatshirt - for a fee.

Death of Devices?
by Dan Hanttula, Editor-in-Chief

"...over the last three years, we've received dozens of devices from companies who went out of business..."

Although the ".com" industry is the most public display of a loss in investor confidence, another less-noticeable market segment is being drastically slashed with cutbacks and layoffs. I'm talking, of course, about the gadget industry which has seen a mass withdrawal of investors, venture capitalists and products. Gigantic firms like Sony dropped their eMarker product (see our review from Feburary 2001) and smaller innovative companies like SimpleDevices Inc. have only been able to launch one of four products in their suite of Internet-connected solutions.

The Simple Clock

A bedside clock that wirelessly receives
weather and traffic information. Although this
was one of our top products from COMDEX 2000,
it still has not been launched.

And SemperAptus has been effected too. The number of products we received for review in 2002 was down to 30% from the number of incoming shipments we had in 1999. Moreover in the last three years, we've received dozens of devices from companies who went out of business just before or immediately after their product hit the market. For example, the SportBrain, an Internet-connected pedometer was sent to our office for review and just one month later their Web site was replaced with the message:

"We are very sorry to inform you that SportBrain, Inc. was not able to obtain new funding and has shut down its operations... It is possible that a buyer of the SportBrain technology will offer service to former SportBrain customers."

But things are slowly beginning to turn around. Late 2002, SportBrain reopened their site and although their hardware has not resumed shipping, the existing customer base can now log in and resume tracking their workouts. So too is grand innovation being uncovered in the most unlikely place -- the businesses hardest hit. The automotive industry (which was having a hard time in the economic slowdown) is pouring out some of the most unconventional models and ideas yet. And the PDA industry (which even in late 2002 was experiencing sluggish sales and profits) has been flooding the market with more exciting and unique products than we've seen in the entire history of the Personal Digital Assistant!

So please check the seat pocket in front of you for your personal belongings, ladies and gentlemen as it seems that the rough ride is almost over. And the good news is that although we have a smaller set of products and companies behind them, gadgets should make a bigger splash, since investors backing them will be doing so with a much more cautious eye.

The SportBrain is back! - Almost...
Sony eMarker - Remarkably Good