Sometimes, you can just be too direct.
VentureWire announced today that a company called Get Satisfaction Unlimited, which provides a forum for consumers to discuss customer service issues, has secured $1.3 million in funding from First Round Capital, O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures and a group of individual investors.
(Credit:
Satisfaction Unlimited)
It's a great idea. But there are probably a lot of names that wouldn't make a 13-year old laugh. Kvetch.com, Alwaysright.com, Whining Old Ladies. If I were a naming consultant, popping off those three would probably net me $50,000. Not bad for 45 seconds of labor.
Get Satisfaction Unlimited sounds like a 1) the album Barry White never finished or 2) the name of a Jean Claude Van Damme movie in which someone gets their head lopped off by a helicopter blade. At a minimum, they should have included a few exclamation points (Unlimited!!!) on the end.
"It's a new take on customer service," company Chief Executive Thor Muller told VentureWire. "Customers are at the center and can help each other. It's a community sourcing platform where questions can be asked, problems can be solved and ideas can be shared."
The publication does not report whether Thor (if that is his real name) was wearing a shirt or not.
The name seems to change quite a bit too. Although VentureWire has it down as Get Satisfaction Unlimited, the site lists the company as Satisfaction, Satisfaction Unlimited, and Satisfaction! (Finally, they wise up and go for exclamations.) BusinessWeek described it as Get Satisfaction.
Get Satisfaction now joins my hall of crazy company names. Some are good (Hyperactive Technologies, Dress Barn) and some are a bit crazy (Internet Gold Golden Lines, Central European Media Enterprises, Hurray Holding and Wackenhut Security). And let's not forget the game controller, the TrustMaster!
(Credit:
Mitek)
With the home becoming ever-more digital, we've seen a steady increase of instances where technologies converge with traditional furnishings. The early stages of this domestic evolution have often involved chairs and cabinets, but we may be on the cusp of a new phase with lamps. Yes, lamps.
At CES this week Soundolier showed off its "Duo," a combination speaker-lamp that can be purchased as a single fixture or as a pair for full stereo (and better lighting) for $280 each. Another $80 will get you the "Maestro," a wireless transmitter that pipes in music from your receiver, iPod or CD player.
And then there's this bonus feature: "A foot-controlled power and dimmer offer convenient control of the lamp for room lighting, theater-style dimming or anywhere in between." Bring on the Andre--it would make The Ladies Man proud.
Having more than just a few gray hairs, we're still more comfortable with knobs and dials on our toys.
(Credit:
Question Mark Entertainment)
But if you're into all this new-fangled wireless stuff these days, you might want to check out the "Motion Speaker" from Question Mark Entertainment (even if it does look like an alien). You can work the controls with a wave of the hand that signals sensors to adjust the volume or change radio channel, according to Electronista. It also has a built-in ambient lighting system to set the mood that's appropriate for your music. Alcoholic beverages not included.
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