Articles by Frank Catalano

Frank Catalano is a veteran industry strategist and analyst for consumer and education technologies. His GeekWire commentary and analysis pieces take a practical nerd's approach to tech. He tweets @FrankCatalano.

A Post-Diesel Journal: How the VW emissions software scandal sent one family down a new road

Amazon Tap review: Say hello to my little friend — and new travel buddy
Echo Dot review: Hands-on with Amazon’s smart, squat, almost-too-independent Alexa sibling
Amazon Books: 4 months later, the retail giant’s bricks-and-mortar experiment feels like a winner

Latest from Frank Catalano

A Post-Diesel Journal: How the VW emissions software scandal sent one family down a new road

by Frank Catalano on February 25, 2017February 25, 2017 at 1:36 pm 3 Comments

After nearly two decades with two cars, it starts with a forced shift to being a one-car family. Then it continues as sudden stimulus for an experiment: 60 days living… Read More

Amazon Tap review: Say hello to my little friend — and new travel buddy

by Frank Catalano on May 8, 2016May 9, 2016 at 7:51 am 4 Comments

“Oh my God. It’s another one.” That was my wife’s reaction when she saw that a third Amazon Alexa device had infiltrated our household. It’s understandable. First, tall, slender Echo.… Read More

Commentary: KPLU’s proposed acquisition by KUOW puts a global online audience at risk

by Frank Catalano on April 17, 2016April 17, 2016 at 2:03 pm 20 Comments

The clock is ticking in the campaign to save a beloved media institution based in the Seattle area. With 24-hour jazz and exclusive in-studio artist sessions (plus quirky promos and lively personalities),… Read More

Echo Dot review: Hands-on with Amazon’s smart, squat, almost-too-independent Alexa sibling

by Frank Catalano on April 3, 2016April 6, 2016 at 9:06 am 4 Comments

Befitting its stature, here is the capsule review: Amazon’s new Echo Dot smart speaker is the Echo you’ve been waiting for if you mainly want its flexible, functional voice commands and… Read More

Amazon Books: 4 months later, the retail giant’s bricks-and-mortar experiment feels like a winner

by Frank Catalano on March 13, 2016March 13, 2016 at 3:54 pm 22 Comments

Amazon has almost perfected a shopping experience for browsers — and I mean human, not web. Four months after the first Amazon Books physical store opened in Seattle’s University Village, Amazon… Read More

Ignore the critics: The world needs more Tomorrowlands

by Frank Catalano on May 27, 2015May 27, 2015 at 6:21 pm 2 Comments

Tomorrow sucks. That, in a nutshell, seems to be the assessment of many film reviewers and even the box office receipts when it comes to the futuristic Disney release, Tomorrowland. Expected… Read More

Education technology: Your cheat sheet to 10 fads, trends, and WTFs

by Frank Catalano on May 21, 2015May 22, 2015 at 8:27 am 4 Comments

It’s been a most-frenzied spring of conferences in the new hotbed of startup and investor tech opportunity, education technology. And “frenzied” isn’t too strong of a description. At one point… Read More

CenturyLink adds six more Seattle neighborhoods to gigabit Internet expansion

by Frank Catalano on May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 at 1:16 pm 13 Comments

Without a lot of fanfare, CenturyLink is adding to its gigabit broadband Internet footprint in Seattle, introducing the service in six new neighborhoods. In an update, CenturyLink said it’s starting to expand… Read More

Bezos’ Blue Origin starts spaceflight signups for its New Shepard capsule

by Frank Catalano on May 1, 2015May 5, 2015 at 5:20 pm 3 Comments

Why stop with asking for an invitation for an Amazon Echo, or a reservation for the new Tesla Powerwall, when you can get in line for space? Blue Origin, the space… Read More

Mobile news app Circa reportedly up for sale after failing to raise more money

by Frank Catalano on May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 at 9:32 am 2 Comments

Circa, the app that hoped to revolutionize mobile news consumption, is making some news of its own. Both Fortune and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that Circa is up… Read More

Video

Tesla in the house: Elon Musk’s new batteries aim to transform home, industry, and the grid

by Frank Catalano on May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 at 8:44 am1 Comment

Tesla is taking the expertise it developed in creating batteries for its electric cars and scaling it up for homes and businesses. Tesla Energy, a new business of Elon Musk’s… Read More

Tech veteran Alex Alben named Washington state’s first Chief Privacy Officer

by Frank Catalano on May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 at 5:37 am1 Comment

Washington state has named its first Chief Privacy Officer. And for many in tech, it’s a familiar name: former RealNetworks and Starwave exec Alex Alben. In announcing the new position,… Read More

Seattle startup Booktrope raises $1.2M for its book ‘team-publishing’ service

by Frank Catalano on April 30, 2015April 30, 2015 at 1:06 pm 2 Comments

Booktrope, a Seattle-based startup with a platform and service for book authors, has raised $1.2 million of a planned $2.3 million funding round, according to a new filing with the… Read More

Seattle restaurant challenges Postmates over unauthorized delivery service

by Frank Catalano on April 30, 2015April 30, 2015 at 1:39 pm 7 Comments

That restaurant you’re ordering from online? It may not actually know you’re making an order. That’s the situation for Seattle restaurant Nikos Gyros in the city’s Magnolia neighborhood. The Magnolia Voice… Read More

Instacart, Whole Foods again partner for floral delivery, now for Mother’s Day

by Frank Catalano on April 30, 2015April 30, 2015 at 11:02 amComment

Kids, Instacart and Whole Foods are about to do for you what they did for significant others on Valentine’s Day. Starting tomorrow, the grocer and delivery service are partnering to provide flowers… Read More

EY announces 21 Pacific Northwest finalists for 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year

by Frank Catalano on April 30, 2015April 30, 2015 at 8:55 amComment

Entrepreneurs from Bellevue to Bend have been honored as finalists in the latest EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition for the Pacific Northwest. The list of 21 finalists was released… Read More

Hulu approaches 9M paid subscribers, drops confusing ‘Plus’ brand

by Frank Catalano on April 30, 2015April 30, 2015 at 5:55 amComment

Hulu appears to be benefiting from consumers’ desires to unbundle, cut cords, and go mobile. The video streaming service — owned by television networks — revealed that its paid subscribers… Read More

Evernote introduces new ‘Plus’ and updated ‘Premium’ subscription plans

by Frank Catalano on April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 at 2:44 pmComment

Evernote, like Goldilocks, now has three choices. But it’s hoping the continuing Basic, new Plus, and updated Premium options are all just right for its subscribers. Today, the cross-platform note-taking,… Read More

Crowdsourced creative firm Zooppa raises $3.4M of Series B round

by Frank Catalano on April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 at 12:20 pmComment

Zooppa, a Seattle-based company that crowdsources advertising creative through online contests, has raised $3.4 million in a new round of funding. According to a Form D filed with the U.S.… Read More

Google releases Password Alert to warn of phishing in Chrome

by Frank Catalano on April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 at 10:29 amComment

Google wants to stop successful password phishing attempts where many begin: In your web browser. Today, it released a free, open-source extension for its Chrome browser that warns users when… Read More

Ignition-backed MTN to be acquired by Emerging Market Communications

by Frank Catalano on April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 at 10:46 amComment

MTN Communications, a provider of wireless communications technologies to the maritime industry, is being acquired by another company with expertise in communications in remote locations, Miami-based Emerging Market Communications (EMC).… Read More

Redfin touts success of ‘Last Call’ feature in raising last-minute home offers

by Frank Catalano on April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 at 6:05 am 11 Comments

Homebuyers who are outbid for that new domicile may have technology and data mining to blame — though undoubtedly sellers are not unhappy. Redfin is reporting that its “Last Call for… Read More

MultiCare offering app-based video doctor visits for $40 in Washington state

by Frank Catalano on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 at 2:51 pm 2 Comments

The doctor will see you now. Just hold your smartphone a little closer. MultiCare Health System has announced it will offer “video doctor visits” to patients throughout Washington state in… Read More

UCLA student op-ed slams Nathan Myhrvold as commencement speaker

by Frank Catalano on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 at 1:38 pm 7 Comments

UCLA alumnus Nathan Myhrvold has just joined an elite group: graduation commencement speakers that have ignited controversy simply by being chosen to speak. A strongly worded opinion column in today’s Daily Bruin… Read More

Nonprofit Seattle BioMed changes name to Center for Infectious Disease Research

by Frank Catalano on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 at 11:09 am1 Comment

The largest independent nonprofit in the U.S. focused solely on infectious disease research is changing its name to better align with what it does: Seattle BioMed is becoming the Center… Read More

Avanade to acquire independent Microsoft Dynamics partner in Europe

by Frank Catalano on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 at 8:55 am 2 Comments

Business technology services firm Avanade is increasing its global footprint. The Seattle-based company says it will acquire KCS.net, described as one of the largest independent Microsoft Dynamics partners in Germany, Switzerland… Read More

Instacart expands one-hour Petco delivery to 14 cities for those pet supply emergencies

by Frank Catalano on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 at 8:24 am1 Comment

Grocery delivery service Instacart is now a pet supply delivery service in Seattle, Portland, and a dozen other cities. Following a pilot in Boston and San Francisco, Instacart says it… Read More

Amazon Business marketplace launches with free shipping and purchasing tools

by Frank Catalano on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 at 8:01 am1 Comment

Amazon today launched its new Amazon Business marketplace with “hundreds of millions of products” and what it calls business-only pricing and selection, free two-day shipping, and a number of other new… Read More

Amazon launches Whispercast 3.0 tool, emphasizes free services for schools

by Frank Catalano on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 at 7:54 am1 Comment

Amazon is intensifying its efforts to go after education market customers by releasing a significant upgrade to its Whispercast tool — plus tossing in a free service to ease the transition… Read More

Video

University of Washington develops app to detect signs of sleep apnea at home

by Frank Catalano on April 27, 2015April 27, 2015 at 4:51 pm1 Comment

Snoring can be annoying. Sleep apnea can be life threatening. And the University of Washington says it has developed an Android app that can identify sleep apnea events at home as… Read More

Articles by Frank Catalano

Top Stories from Frank Catalano

A Post-Diesel Journal: How the VW emissions software scandal sent one family down a new road

Latest from Frank Catalano

A Post-Diesel Journal: How the VW emissions software scandal sent one family down a new road

Amazon Tap review: Say hello to my little friend — and new travel buddy

Commentary: KPLU’s proposed acquisition by KUOW puts a global online audience at risk

Echo Dot review: Hands-on with Amazon’s smart, squat, almost-too-independent Alexa sibling

Amazon Books: 4 months later, the retail giant’s bricks-and-mortar experiment feels like a winner

Ignore the critics: The world needs more Tomorrowlands

Education technology: Your cheat sheet to 10 fads, trends, and WTFs

CenturyLink adds six more Seattle neighborhoods to gigabit Internet expansion

Bezos’ Blue Origin starts spaceflight signups for its New Shepard capsule

Mobile news app Circa reportedly up for sale after failing to raise more money

Tesla in the house: Elon Musk’s new batteries aim to transform home, industry, and the grid

Tech veteran Alex Alben named Washington state’s first Chief Privacy Officer

Seattle startup Booktrope raises $1.2M for its book ‘team-publishing’ service

Seattle restaurant challenges Postmates over unauthorized delivery service

Instacart, Whole Foods again partner for floral delivery, now for Mother’s Day

EY announces 21 Pacific Northwest finalists for 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year

Hulu approaches 9M paid subscribers, drops confusing ‘Plus’ brand

Evernote introduces new ‘Plus’ and updated ‘Premium’ subscription plans

Crowdsourced creative firm Zooppa raises $3.4M of Series B round

Google releases Password Alert to warn of phishing in Chrome

Ignition-backed MTN to be acquired by Emerging Market Communications

Redfin touts success of ‘Last Call’ feature in raising last-minute home offers

MultiCare offering app-based video doctor visits for $40 in Washington state

UCLA student op-ed slams Nathan Myhrvold as commencement speaker

Nonprofit Seattle BioMed changes name to Center for Infectious Disease Research

Avanade to acquire independent Microsoft Dynamics partner in Europe

Instacart expands one-hour Petco delivery to 14 cities for those pet supply emergencies

Amazon Business marketplace launches with free shipping and purchasing tools

Amazon launches Whispercast 3.0 tool, emphasizes free services for schools

University of Washington develops app to detect signs of sleep apnea at home

Scratch Day in Redmond

Metis Data Science Bootcamp Application Deadline

Digital Across Borders: What’s at Stake for Pacific Northwest Companies