How the iPod Took Over the World

In an interview with Newsweek on the fifth anniversary of the iPod, Steve Jobs explains how he got the music labels to go along with the iTunes store. What he describes is a classic example of how a disruptive technology can creep up from the edges before taking the world by storm.

That's certainly true for the iPod. First it was digital music for the Mac crowd. Then for all PCs. Then it added video. And now everyone is waiting for the iPhone. Creeping disruption is definitely the way to go.



Furthermore you can now buy a Mercedes-Benz Limited Edition IPOD!! (If you are interested in one leave a comment)

Second Life Hits One Million Online Residents

Second Life, the online 3-D virtual world where you can develop your own real estate and design your own clothing, hit one million registered residents today. About 40 percent have actually logged on in the last two months, more than 10,000 are on at any given time, and the equivalent of $455,000 changed hands in just the past 24 hours.

This thing just keeps getting bigger, especially as people get more the more powerful computers needed to even log on. In fact, I think that's the main thing holding it back. Windows Vista will be good for Second Life.

Invisibility could be possible

Check this out - Scientists take step toward invisibility! Check this article out...
http://news.com.com/Scientists+take+step+toward+invisibility/2100-11395_3-6127874.html?tag=cd.top

More Copyright issues (This time YouTube)

Video-sharing service YouTube has wiped nearly 30,000 files from its website after Japanese media companies said their copyright was being infringed. The Japan Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers found 29,549 music video, movie and TV clips had been posted without permission.

What are Management Information Systems?

The term Management Information Systems has become ever more popular in recent times, indeed the course we are presently studying is called MIS. However, a couple of questions I asked recently were - What is a Management Information System? And, if it fails, is it important?

In its simplest format it is an Information System for Management. But, does this mean computers, databases, hardware, software? Indeed, who are the management? The MD, the Finance Director or the Supervisor or the person who manages the process?

Unfortunately, I don't have a definitive answer, but I believe it is all of the above plus the system that allows feedback and discussion to take place to allow management to tap into the knowledge of their most important resource - humans!

If there is no MIS in place, does it really matter? Well, yes, because without it there is just chaos. Whether it is a structure that is stuck to rigidly or a loose structure that provides guidelines, it is important.

Click the link below to see a situation that I believe helps define a Management Information System and that many people will not have thought of. Failure of this system could have potentially catastrophic consequences.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7198985749136975119

IPOD Killers

What is going to kill the IPOD? Maybe the new Microsoft Zune?

http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/6002/ipod-killer-christmas2006.html

Google Profit Almost Doubles as Ad Spending Surges

Google continues to prove that you can make profit from the Internet with a robust business model. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&refer=news&sid=aBGLeSJCNu1M

Mac vs PC

Just to show that what we do during the course isn't all serious stuff, we have recently been having a side debate about whether the Apple Mac is better than the PC or not. The majority of people I have spoken to seem to think that the Mac is better, but the guy in the link below may disagree!!!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6553260189868317794

How can we make money out of this?

Guys - have a look at this site. Great tips on making money from blogs - need to put some of this on our site. Show me the money!! Let me know what you think
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/10/07/is-adsense-dead/

Mercedes Cars racing

Just a bit of fun - but 4 different mercs racing each other: F1 vs Clk-DTM vs AMG sl55 vs C230k. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efqQvk_aDNE

Very Upset

Downloading digital music is the future and http://www.allofmp3.com/ is the best for cheap "legal" downloading. However, I found out tonight that www.allofmp3.com/ has been affected by small mindness legislation surrounding copyright. It seems that companies and even governments are determine to overcharge consumers for music - especially in the UK and force this sort of services out of business. Full article below:

http://www.bizreport.com/2006/10/russian_music_download_site_defies_us.html

Furthermore, the company behind this website has the aim to move towards a business model of FREE music download and make their money from selling advertising space. See full article - this is the future. No more expensive CDs (or Vinyl), bring it on! However, Visa has stopped taking payments from this website - how small minded?? Can they not see the future?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/technology/18musiccnd.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1161230400&en=b3505998b2c3b2a7&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

Who has the last laugh?

You could not imagine Sergey Brin and Larry Page doing this:

Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, the 20-somethings behind YouTube, are caught on video the day they agree to sell their company to Google for $1.65bn.

The hand-held camera sways as they spout corporate-speak about how they are still going to “develop the most innovative service” for their users, then collapse into giggles over a joking allusion to the catch-line from a Burger King advertisement.


This is what Eric Schmidt, Google CEO thinks of the deal (not quite as exicting though):

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7fb41ef4-5a31-11db-8f16-0000779e2340.html

Big Brother via Radio?

Radio Frequency tags (RFID) are small devices that store data that identifies the object to which they are attached. They have been called "smart barcodes" and are intended to take over many of the jobs of those ubiquitous black and white stripes. For example, Tesco are investigating them for tracking customer purchases for stock control and marketing purposes.

Interesting article from the BBC News website that suggests that more than 270 billion radio-frequency ID tags could be sold around the world by 2016! This is slightly worrying as there is a concern that these devices could track people and their whereabouts - creating issues about personal privacy. However, the sheer amount of data for companies is astounding.

The full article and detail is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6055296.stm

eTechLog - Chasm Jumper or Faller?

Recently, MyTravel Airways, an airline based in Manchester has adopted new technology in the Flight Deck. The Electronic Tech Log, or eTechLog has taken over from the paper based Technical Log. This is the Log that the Pilots and Engineers must legally fill in prior to and after each and every flight.

The eTechLog has just been approved for use by the CAA and MyTravel have adopted this technology just in time for the 2006 summer season. Where do you think the technology lies in the TALC? Is it at the Innovator or Early Adopter stage or has it jumped the chasm and made it to the Early Majority stage? If not, do you think it will manage to jump the chasm and become recognised technology in use with all airlines in the future. Click the link below to find out more information on the eTechLog.

http://www.ds-s.com/Mytravel.pdf