Capture Context

Say it isn’t so. With all the frenzy around Apple products, and the steep incline of their stock price one would wonder: is there any end in sight? Most analysts are targeting the stock to double or triple. Wow. All this hype is reminiscent of housing prices, or the Internet boom right before the bust. “I’ll just refinance in a few years every time the adjustable rate expires…”, so said many people just before housing tanked.

You might be asking yourself, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China, pun intended. Well, the convergence of additional functionality, and increased hardware requirements demands Apple iPads, and iPhones, the products that sent this company soaring, trying to compete with the Jones, Android, will eventually take the Apple paradigm of simplicity to diverge from its core philosophy. People may blame it on a lack of vision from the late Steve Jobs, but regardless of the reason, as Apple tacks on more functionality and advanced hardware, it will become more divergent from the core philosophy.

Remember when Microsoft Windows was the best thing since sliced bread then it became more and more complex, and kept on running aground with each new major revision? Now with Windows 8, it seems, yet again, we have the promises of simplicity, and hey, I’ve looked at some of the previews. I just bought more MSFT stock, and if they deliver, 32 (today’s price), will be cheap. P.S. Believe they took the advice and split their stock way back when. Good on you Bill. Apple should take a page from Microsoft’s book, and be leery, or just be a trailblazer. But, hey, Apple may be very happy being trailblazers, we all learn, and the tough ones survive. 

Best Regards,

Ian Roseman

Note: Microsoft Stock Split History

http://www.ehow.com/about_5077008_microsoft-stock-split-history.html

Using chat conference software, when recording a session with audio, can individual audio channels from each person be saved, exported, mixed into a song. When thinking group chats with audio, business teleconferencing is thought of as the norm. Recording those conversations for playback is usually for replaying meetings or taking notes. Thinking ‘Remote Jams’ sessions would be an amazing idea.

The Norton browser plug-in has the ability to tag links that are deemed safe. The logo appears right next to the link. I am experimenting with Android and am looking at 3rd party markets. Android made me check this setting, Unknown Sources to allow me to run Amazon’s Application market place, a bit uneasy. A potential business model, Application Markets partner with security and optionally testing firms provide Apple’s ‘App approval, & rating’ system as a way consumers may trust applications. The people who want to sell (and free apps) their app will work with one of several 3rd party companies to acquire: A. Verification the application is not malware. B. Verify, optionally, the app functions to the specifications provided by app maker C. Provide insurance similar to https certificates, optionally, especially if the system performs financial transactions D. Provides an independent maturity rating for the application, e.g. game

A link to simple color coded informational icons can be added to App page description. Optionally, clicking the icon link will drill down to the info.

These 3rd party validation companies would charge fees for paid apps on a model that makes sense for them. For the Free applications, the agreement with the app developers may be some monthly control of the advertisements pushed to the application.

Some of these 3rd parties may offer some or all of these services: - testing, security, and insurance

If I were on the board of directors of Eastman Kodak, I would propose one or more of the following initiatives: 

1.    Applications embedded in third party cameras, and game consoles with ability to upload photos (e.g. Cannon, or Nikon) to Kodak Galleries for purchase.

2.    Offer 3D photos using 3D mobile device input like Nintendo 3DS or Samsung 3D phone photos, and print / purchase uploaded to 3D Kodak Gallery Photo Albums.

3.    Offer 3D photo products, such as photo books, calendars, mugs, mouse pads, etc.

4.    Provide ‘photo business intelligence’ to consumers / photographers to maximize the purchasing of uploaded photos, which have not been purchased.

o   E.g., what pictures have not been purchased by the photographer, but have been purchased by people who share the album.

o   E.g. what pictures have been purchases the most in paper format, but not in other mediums, such as calendars, or mugs

5.    Allow / enable licensing of photos and provide a means of facilitating the licensing of photos to third parties, and garnish revenues from transactions

o   photographers tag photos, and enable public licensing options

6.    Push the manufacturing process ‘forward’ of popular products such as photo books to be available ‘on demand’ at Kodak retail booths at local stores.

7.    Meet and greet services in retail stores, e.g. selling family photos as consumers are greeted at the store entrance, especially during holiday seasons.

8.    Look backward to look to the future opportunities, e.g. the Stereoscopy.  Partner with ViewMaster integrate photos of people with fictional characters

9.    Product: Customers use personal photos, which can be used as monetary stamps accepted by the US Postal Service, and endorsed by charities, where proceed profit margins go to charities the consumer supports.