News and Analysis – Page 16

Link Roundup 10/23/2013

October 23, 2013 by Steven Savage

Scott’ll be busy, the panned-but popular Bone Season is apparently getting a shot at a film.
Me? I think a “personal brand” is a useful, if oft corrupted concept. This guy thinks it’s BS and I include him for his opinions.
Economically? Fracking’s oil-rush mentality may be bad for culture and people too.
HP will enter the 3D printing market eventually. The rest of us are not surprised – but a smart move by HP. I’m bullish on them for employment despite their ups and downs and current trends.
Apple is offering it’s OSes and productivity applications free. They crossed a conceptual Rubicon – and pretty much they’re a hardware and service company as far as I’m concerned. This I think is a smart move.
Hey Millenials? Career advice.

– Steven “Rossed the Crubicon” Savage

Link Roundup 10/22/2013

October 22, 2013 by Steven Savage

Discovering the sales secret of the company that doesn’t need to advertise.
Solar power is a middle class thing? It appears to be, which suggests adoption is not what we expected.
Chinese media is extending beyond China. Note how there’s multiple national/international medias battling it out (and the US is falling behind). Also they take on Samsung something feirce. We’ll want to keep an eye on this and see how they may be influencing us.
Note that Chinese internet giant Baidu now takes Bitcoin, which caused it’s stock to rise post-Silk Road. Another attempt to influence markets I imagine . .
Microsoft wants a Glass competitor. No one is surprised.

– Steven “China Is Busy” Savage

In the US, 15% of youth 16 through 24 aren’t employed or in school. Needless to say that’s got some unpleasant economic and cultural repercussions down the road, and may be something we’re revisiting (and fixing) in the next decade. I suppose at least we’re still having sex.

Good for Netflix? They’ve surpassed HBO’s viewer base. Bad? The binge viewing they created may work against them. The first is obvious and should give people pause (and get you sending resumes). The second is an issue because it messes with earning reports and often involves paying a lot up front to recover it years later. Not a big issue – but a damn good reminder of the complexities of how technology changes even simple things like accounting.

Gaming has had over $5 billion in mergers and acquisitions globally. Article six thousand and whatever in “gaming is a big thing” news. But worth remembering.

Finally California is getting a bullet train and the complaining has begun. Plus side, lots of job potentials for a long time . . .

– Steven “Amortizing Your Viewing Experience” Savage