Category Technology

Ouya: Oh yeah?

The open source gaming project on Kickstarter has generated a lot controversy. After raising over $5M, it is a clear run-away success as far as backing is concerned. However, as we are learning, the economics of the gaming console industry are not that simple.

5 Years of the iPhone

5 years ago, Apple released the iPhone. Without a doubt, it set the new bar for mobile and permanently changed consumer expectations for what mobile devices could be capable of. We now had a tool that could do much of what our desktop computers could do – and a lot more.

In the meantime, numerous incumbents and upstarts have all tried to take Apple down. Lets compare market capitalizations of some competitors: GOOG +8%, MSFT +2%, RIMM -86%, NOK -92%, AAPL +367%.

Social Supply Chain Management

Could social media used as an indicator for supply chain management? @ErnoLaszlo CEO Denton is onto something. By monitoring what consumers are saying about his products, he’s able to get a quick pulse on what’s selling and what isn’t. This isn’t a replacement for proper supply chain management but it certainly makes for a novel approach.

Nike+: The Future of Sport

Since the beginning of sport, athletes have strived to improve. From professionals down to weekend warriors, they are looking for ways to know how they are performing and how to perform better. Six years ago, Nike introduced Nike+, a way to measure speed and pace and make running fun again. Today, Nike is taking that philosophy and applied it to training and basketball. You’re no longer just buying a pair of shoes, you’re getting an entire service along with it that knows how you are doing and can help you raise your game. Welcome to the future of sport.

Life is a sport. Make it count.

One of the best ways to motivate people to change behavior is setting goals that can be attained and rewarding them for doing more. Nike has taken a unique tack in the activity tracking space with the introduction of the Nike+ FuelBand, which measures all of your activity all day long in a new unit called Fuel. Worn on the wrist, it captures motion and tells you how much Fuel you’ve earned, steps you’ve taken and calories burned. It syncs wirelessly to iPhones to give you a more detailed look over time and lets you adjust your goals and see your accomplishments. The elegant simplicity of the single button and deeper experiences on the mobile and web applications make it a truly addictive experience that has the power to encourage people to get off the couch and get moving.