Description: At the Think Mobile conference in San Francisco, Starbucks VP Adam Brotman outlines the company’s vision for a new Web-based network available in its coffee shops. In partnership with Yahoo, the new site will offer movies, music, and premium content from The Wall Street Journal and Zagat for free. Source: BNET.com – video report… Read more »
Monthly Archives: September 2010
World’s largest off-shore wind farm
Description: Off of the coast of Great Britain, 100 wind turbines power 200,000 homes Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 09/23/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2010/09/23/n_gb_off_shore_wind_farm.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think this energy business would be as successful, without government subsidies? What role should government play in helping emerging enterprises establish themselves? Are subsidies fair to… Read more »
Oprah Blesses Facebook Founder Zuckerberg’s $100 Million School Gift
Description: You have to be impressed with Mark Zuckerberg. Not just because the 26-year-old has packed a lifetime of achievement into a period when most late adolescents are still trying to find themselves. In seven years he’s gone from being an awkward college freshman to a reported net worth of nearly $7 billion. Source: BNET.com… Read more »
Home video biz has become ‘quite baffling to consumers’
Description: Apple CEO Steve Jobs sang a familiar tune this month when he described a big selling point for his newly revamped Apple TV. The device, which connects TV sets to the Internet, will make it “really simple” for people to rent movies on demand, he said. Source: USAToday.com  Date: 09/23/2010 Link: http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2010-09-23-homevideo23_CV_N.htm Questions… Read more »
Blockbuster Chief Says He Will Evaluate `Every Single Store’
Description: Blockbuster Inc. Chief Executive Officer James Keyes said he will evaluate “every single store†in the video-rental chain as it reorganizes to compete with competitors that provide movies online and by mail. Source: Bloomberg.com  Date: 09/24/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-24/blockbuster-chief-says-he-ll-evaluate-every-single-store-in-video-chain.html Questions for discussion: Why did Blockbuster fail? Why is closing down Blockbuster stores a quick… Read more »
Burger joint’s social media recipe
Description: 4Food uses social networks like Twitter and Foursquare in lieu of traditional marketing to let customers share their own burger creations. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/16/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/09/15/t_4food_burger_donut_twitter.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: What do you think of the use of social marketing, as demonstrated by this small business? Do you think social media… Read more »
iPad clones hit shelves in China
Description: As Apple launches the iPad in China, locally-made wannabes are released at a fraction of the price. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 09/17/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/09/17/t_iclone_china.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think consumers will look at these devices as equivalents to Apple iPads? How is Apple able to sell iPads at five times the… Read more »
Why Great Companies Don’t Stay Great
Description: Ever wonder why there are so few perennially successful companies like Cisco and Microsoft? Or why so many once-great companies, like Dell and Nortel, suddenly hit a wall? No, it’s not about innovation or culture, although they are factors. Source: BNET.com  Date: 09/17/2010 Link: http://www.bnet.com/blog/ceo/why-great-companies-dont-stay-great/5585?tag=content;feature-roto Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments made in… Read more »
Crowdsourcer Threadless’ Life Beyond T-shirts
Description: With designs vetted by devotees, Threadless has helped Dell sell computers and Havaianas sell flip-flops. Next up: Expanding into brick and mortar retail chains Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 09/16/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_39/b4196024715129.htm Questions for discussion: Why does this marketing strategy work so well? What other businesses do you think could succeed by using the same… Read more »
Please, for the Love of God, Upgrade Your Browser
Description: Internet Explorer 9, Chrome, and Firefox are great, but outdated software is still holding back the Web. Source: Slate.com  Date: 09/16/2010 Link: http://www.slate.com/id/2267673/ Questions for discussion: What does this article have to say about consumer adoption of new technologies? Why is it difficult to persuade consumers to upgrade their software, even when it… Read more »
