Disqus - Latest Comments for mona

Re: Sansho powder : Substitutes, Ingredients, Equivalents - GourmetSleuth

Mona Nomura — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 05:40:40 -0000

1. Sansho is not used on sushi. 2. Sichuan pepper and sansho taste very different. Mainly, because Sichuan peppercorns are always roasted while sansho peppercorns are not.

Re: 12 Startups in 12 Months

Mona Nomura — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 23:07:14 -0000

I've actually met him in person -- he was demo'ing Go Fucking Do It at an event in the Philippines and he is NOT a d-bag. He actually took a lot of constructive criticism from the peanut gallery graciously.

Re: Startup founders in Southeast Asia, it’s time to step up

Mona Nomura — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 22:08:24 -0000

Ahhhhhh still too soon for 3/11 jokes!! (Don't worry, just keep that in mind.) Moving on... I see tons of first world problems that need solving in Japan -- too bad this market doesn't interest me ;) Happy to pass them along to you.

Re: Startup founders in Southeast Asia, it’s time to step up

Mona Nomura — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 21:19:36 -0000

What are you talking about?! The startup culture is alive and kicking... on the internet! Twitter, Github, Hackernews, Quora, even Reddit to name a few! It's 2014. There's no need to go to a crowded, over priced coffee shop in the Bay Area (Creamery, Philz, Blue Bottle, et al.) to experience culture, Mattadoor!

Re: Startup founders in Southeast Asia, it’s time to step up

Mona Nomura — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 00:52:57 -0000

Definitely fair points however, Southeast Asia in particular is a market that is still at its infancy. Plenty of localized and problems across the region that needs solving. APAC is reminiscent of the US in 2006-07, when consumerism pre-share economy was starting to get disrupted. It's such an exciting time to be in the region right now.

Thanks for the input Eran!

Re: Startup founders in Southeast Asia, it’s time to step up

Mona Nomura — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 07:52:07 -0000

Hi Yan, thanks for the comment. Do you see the lack of ambition to expand abroad a problem? I believe it depends on what the founders are building and the problems they are trying to solve... Not everything has to be 'global' or 'US-centric'.

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 01:58:23 -0000

Thanks for the feedback, Ehtesham!

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 01:56:26 -0000

Thanks!

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 01:56:05 -0000

Hi JGotts, thanks so much for your feedback.

I, too, have been there done that (IRC, ICQ, AIM and MSN). The respective instant messaging services were fragmented by audience vs region, like with messaging apps ex: IRC+ICQ = Internet friends -- before the Internet was cool ;) -- AIM = US friends, MSN = friends in Japan, Yahoo for my friends in SE Asia. Like you, when Facebook entered the equation, it was easier to communicate via groups, messages and chat. Then, iMessage launched and my sole communication was done through iMessage. I look at messaging apps more like email / SMS than I do a social networking tool.

That aside, how WeChat, Line and KakaoTalk are differentiating themselves is they are more of a business than the rest. WhatsApp has the highest MUA but I see them running into the typical social network problem: all these users, how do we make money? Snapchat is a completely different product -- like a game, more so than a communication tool / utility.

This space is still evolving but I still stand by my statement that messaging apps are not a fit for the US market.

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 03:20:05 -0000

Sustainable model* if subscription services are the only way they are taking revenues, what happens when they lose users? Why would user even want to pay when Line and others are free to download and use? Obviously you too, don't understand messaging apps.

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:58:00 -0000

Would like to hear your thoughts on why Facebook and Path stickers haven't taken off then. Or do you even have any?

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 02:55:22 -0000

How is purchase by download a business model? WhatsApp isn't AngryBirds.

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:06:11 -0000

Ben:

Cultural differences is the reason I firmly believe messaging apps will not see the same success in the US as they've had in Asia and other markets.

The US is a culture of bold expression; selfies, to be specific. The president even got caught taking one in a very inappropriate setting for god's sake. As Americans are more self-absorbed, they have little no qualms expressing themselves by face shots and or even text. Hence, the popularity of stickers haven't taken off.

One can argue the popularity of emoji on iPhones counters my argument but then, it goes back to my original argument the US is SMS reliant. Messaging apps are communication tools. Why would people go out of their way to use a messaging app when one can simply...text. For free. And it's unlimited.

There is no need for messaging apps in the US.

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:00:03 -0000

Hi Scott, thanks for your comment.

I commend Snapchat and indeed their rise proves there is a need but if you look at the feature differences, you, too, will agree Snapchat is not on the same playing field as Line, KakaoTalk and WeChat. WhatsApp, Kik and Viber aren't even on their levels.

Snapchat serves as a fun tool. WhatsApp, Kik and Viber are communication utilities like Line, KakaoTalk and WeChat. The differences are, the latter three have business models and strategies. Where the former are just...building to build.

In the American market, Instagram (if they lay out their product pipeline correctly and ultimately include text communication sans comment thread) will ultimately win this space.

I'm adressing in more detail to Ben below.

Re: Silicon Valley, you are tardy to the messaging app party

Mona Nomura — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 01:05:44 -0000

Do you talk with your US friends on LINE?

Re: When I was Deeply Wrong in 2008

Mona Nomura — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 07:13:49 -0000

We live and learn, Duncan. Best wishes and much love to you!

Re: The Begrudging Death of the Social Media Superstar

Mona Nomura — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:34:39 -0000

Thanks nailing it on so many levels and elegantly stating what pros marketing our brands vs ourselves, have been thinking since day one. This is a must read for all new grads / people looking to transition into 'social media'.

Re: Dreams Don’t Reach Themselves People: Here I Go

Mona Nomura — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:04:37 -0000

Inspiring post, I can feel your energy! Many congrats to you all around!!

Re: The Most Important Search for “Someone” I’ve Ever Done in My Entire Life

Mona Nomura — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:05:10 -0000

So jealous of the lucky person -- good luck with your search and many congrats to your successes all around!

Re: Redefining PR: My New Consultancy

Mona Nomura — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:22:58 -0000

Heather -- words cannot articulate how thrilled and proud I am of you! I'm so glad you finally chose to venture on your own and you, my stunning friend with a brilliant mind and golden heart, will do so well. I am your biggest fan.

Cheers to new beginnings!

Re: In Praise of the Blackberry - Zvika Krieger - The Atlantic

Mona Nomura — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:52:56 -0000

A bit confused as to why apps are necessary for options that should be available for handsets right out of the box. Why do I need to spend time searching for apps to turn off a sound...?

At any rate, BlackBerries along with the arguments of this piece are backwards. Happy hunting and pecking!

Re: Why the Campaign Is So Nasty

Mona Nomura — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:42:12 -0000

Should politicians -- especially presidential candidates and their respective campaigns have the kindergarten mentality? They are potential world leaders...

Re: What Grown-Ups Can Learn From Kids' Books

Mona Nomura — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:14:04 -0000

Oh, the irony.

Re: In Defense of NBC: There Are Two Olympics

Mona Nomura — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:18:39 -0000

It's NBC's responsibility as a media giant to realize in 2012, not everyone consumes media in the same way. All we are asking for, are options. Why is that such an outrageous concept?

Re: The 6 Types Of People I Hate In New York City

Mona Nomura — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:42:52 -0000

I don't do Brooklyn because it's too frickin' far and the L blows. It's really that simple.