BIT320 Remix: apple Archives

High Web traffic means sales

Walmart, Amazon, eBay and Apple post big online holiday sales - based on predictions using amount of traffic between retail sites and shipping sites

In del.icio.us/jbartko, 12/20/2005 | Original | Archive

This article praises Walmart.com, Amazon, Apple and eBay for high online holiday sales. It’s interesting because actual results aren’t released until January, but predictions are made based on the amount of traffic between these sites and their shipping sites. If web users are browsing items and clicking on links to ship, they’re probably buying. Online shopping is predicted to grow about 24% this holiday season. That doesn’t surprise me, but I don’t think I’ll be included in that statistic. During the rest of the year, I do sometimes appreciate the convenience of online shopping - even though actually seeing/touching my purchase is a lot more fun. But during the holidays - I think it’s more than seeing the items, it’s actually experiencing the stores. What’s Christmas shopping without all the decorations and music surrounding you at the mall? That’s my opinion - and I’m sure it isn’t shared by all, especially those who hate the crowds more than they love the atmosphere.

The article makes a good point about a different use for online retail sites: research.

…retailers such as Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. may be coming up short in terms of converting traffic into Web sales. It was not clear, however, if this was due to some other dynamic — whether shoppers were simply looking at products online that they would later buy in stores, for example.

I do this all the time - and it can really make your trip to the store easier. Especially when you have to learn a significant amount about the purchase before you buy - like computers or other electronics.

In jb's blog, 12/20/2005 | Original | Archive | Post to del.icio.us | Technorati

End nears for Mac version of IE

Life's not so friendly afterall. No more IE for Macs: good move?

In del.icio.us/pinkfootsie, 12/20/2005 | Original | Archive

Microsoft Kills Mac Internet Explorer

Microsoft will stop supporting the Mac version of Internet Explorer at the end of 2005

In del.icio.us/tigerlily23, 12/19/2005 | Original | Archive

MTV, Microsoft Set To Take on Apple's iTunes

Microsoft and Viacom's MTV will join forces to develop a digital-music service that relies on the next version of Windows Media Player.

In del.icio.us/tigerlily23, 12/15/2005 | Original | Archive

Best speakers for the iPod

I gotta get some speakers for my iPod, Altec Lansing InMotion is ranked highest

In del.icio.us/williamhmacy3, 12/14/2005 | Original | Archive

Apple Boombox- Some Insider News for You.

As we all head into the new year, Apple is coming up with a new product called AppleInsider which is basically a boombox with features never seen before. Read more about it on this article.

In del.icio.us/supriya, 12/14/2005 | Original | Archive

Garages have mythic power in Silicon Valley

HP, Apple, Google all got their start in a garage

In del.icio.us/tigerlily23, 12/08/2005 | Original | Archive

NBC Partners with Apple To Sell TV Shows on iTunes

Following ABC's lead in offering TV programming through the the iTunes store, NBC Universal has agreed to sell shows to Apple video iPod and iTunes users.

In del.icio.us/tigerlily23, 12/07/2005 | Original | Archive

This One’s For You, Zee

Check out this gizmodo post about yet another crazy iPod accessory. This guy built a hand-cranked iPod charger and then modified it to fit a bike. That’s right - just in case you’re biking a marathon and your battery runs out, you can simply pedal yourself a re-charge.

This probably isn’t as crazy as the iPod costumes Zee posted about. It’s actually a cool invention and I’m sure this guy is pretty smart. But, honestly, how obsessed are we with the iPod?? We can’t ride a few miles without it? And why is the charger for the iPod only? Couldn’t he have just invented a bike charger and then applied it to many things, not just the iPod? Obsession.

In jb's blog, 12/07/2005 | Original | Archive | Post to del.icio.us | Technorati

Variety.com - Peeved over TiVo

will we be able to dL tv shows from TiVo to iPods and Playstations?

In del.icio.us/jbartko, 12/07/2005 | Original | Archive

Apple - Mighty Mouse

the new mouse from apple - looks like a single click, actually more going on underneath

In del.icio.us/jbartko, 12/05/2005 | Original | Archive

CNN.com - Review: Apple tiptoes into Media Center domain - Dec 2, 2005

the new iMac G5 - when operated with Front Row software - is a media center with a few things to complain about

In del.icio.us/jbartko, 12/05/2005 | Original | Archive

the apple media center

Apple is releasing the new iMac G5, as discussed in this article. The computer turns into a media center when you use FrontRow software. When FrontRow is launched, it looks kind of like a big DVD menu. Your remote control is all you need to operate FrontRow. You can choose to play a DVD, play music, watch a video or look at photos. It can’t play TV. It can, however, play podcasts of TV that you have already downloaded. But, you can’t download using FrontRow. So, if you decide you want to watch something that you don’t have, you have to get up and use the keyboard and mouse.

Maybe it’s just me, but I just can’t picture an iMac in my living room. Why not just put a TV in your living room? It can do pretty much the same thing. And it can actually play TV. And then I could keep my computer someplace more sensible, like in my office. In my opinion, the only really great place for this thing is in a college dormroom or someplace like that. When everything you own is in one room, it makes sense to combine the computer and the media center.

In jb's blog, 12/05/2005 | Original | Archive | Post to del.icio.us | Technorati

Apple - Support - Downloads - Broadband Tuner 1.0

Fascinating, makes your broadband go faster. Assumes high capacity with high latency. I wonder how this impacts terminal applications vs things like web browsers.

In del.icio.us/fpgibson, 11/28/2005 | Original | Archive

For the Anime lovers

Ipod Nano may not be for everything but what about those little cute creatures?

In del.icio.us/pinkfootsie, 11/13/2005 | Original | Archive

Report: PC users buying Macs thanks to iPod's 'halo effect' - Nov. 8, 2005

over 1Million windows users converted to Macs in 2005.... uh oh!

In del.icio.us/jbartko, 11/10/2005 | Original | Archive

Major Television networks offer VOD for .99

TV broadcasters follow in Apple's footsteps

In del.icio.us/mridge, 11/08/2005 | Original | Archive

CNN.com - Market growing for used iPods - Nov 7, 2005

many iPod buyers are simply updating to a newer model - these buyers should take advantage of the market for used iPods, or get money from Apple for a trade-in

In del.icio.us/jbartko, 11/08/2005 | Original | Archive

Podcasting is seeing green.

Volvo, aggregation, all those who u never thought would catch onto this idea.

In del.icio.us/pinkfootsie, 11/06/2005 | Original | Archive

Today’s Top Brands: What the future will bring.

This article on Forbes.com identifies several of today’s top brands with the most opportunity for growth. Consumers have suggested specific areas for that growth. For example, consumers want to see Apple move into cell phones, car stereos and televisions. They want a dating network from eBay.

I thought this article was especially interesting in light of all the Corporate Strategy I’ve been studying this week. Sooner or later, firms are faced with opportunities to expand, and they must choose how. This article seems to be in favor of horizontal integration into other industries and product categories. I think the suggestions for Apple make sense. Apple has a reputation for media products and user-friendliness, both very important for things like cell phones and televisions. However, I don’t exactly agree with some of the suggestions for Yahoo: clothing and coffee houses. Yahoo is a tech company. Will it really be so desparate as to start selling its brand on clothing and coffee? I hope not. A company like Yahoo has capabilities in technology and should leverage them in other technology industries. Clothing and coffee may destory the Yahoo brand image and hurt the existing tech businesses.

The article is fun - it gets you thinking about the future. What do you want out of today’s brands in 10 years?

In jb's blog, 10/29/2005 | Original | Archive | Post to del.icio.us | Technorati