Description: Internet phenomenons like “Bed Intruder Song” are textbook cases for how online videos turn the most mundane of events into sensations, where random people just being themselves become quasi-celebrities. Rex Crum reports. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 08/27/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/rex-on-techs-overnight-viral-success/779C5034-618C-4007-8946-B084683E2528 Questions for discussion: How do you explain this example of viral communication success?… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Part 2 Starting and Growing Your Business
Apple TV swings hard but misses
Description: The previous version of Apple TV was dubbed “take two.” Will the new model be known as “strike three”? Source: CNNMoney.com  Date: 09/02/2010 Link: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/09/02/apple-tv-swings-hard-but-misses/ Questions for discussion: Do you think the Apple TV will prove to be another flop? Ideally, what do you think TV viewers want from Apple? How can changing… Read more »
digits: Pay TV Loses Subscribers
Description: The subscription television industry suffered a drop in total subscribers in the second quarter. Meanwhile, more online TV viewing options abound. Dow Jones Newswires’ Nat Worden joins Simon Constable and Spencer Ante on Digits to discuss. Source: Marketwatch.com – video report Date: 08/24/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/digits-pay-tv-loses-subscribers/3B9C3648-A3D8-4A53-937A-CDF2F564C568 Questions for discussion: Do you think the trend away… Read more »
Ideas Wanted: Multinationals Open Doors to Entrepreneurs
Description: Giants such as GE and PepsiCo are sponsoring competitions that let startups strut their stuff. Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 08/26/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/aug2010/sb20100825_281270.htm Questions for discussion: Why does this open-door approach work well for both parties? How is this good for customers? What are the benefits for the economy as a whole?
USA Today to Remake Itself to Stress Digital Operations
Description: The history of USA Today is full of firsts for the newspaper business: the first general-interest national paper of its kind, the first to use color widely in charts and photographs and once first in the number of copies printed each day. Source: NYTimes.com  Date: 08/27/2010 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/28/business/media/28paper.html?ref=business Questions for discussion: Do you… Read more »
Intel, After McAfee Deal, May Find Mobile Security a Hard Sell
Description: Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini, with the $7.68 billion acquisition of security software maker McAfee Inc., is betting that customers will pay to guard against attacks that have yet to materialize. Source: Bloomberg.com  Date: 08/20/2010 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-20/intel-s-otellini-after-mcafee-deal-may-find-mobile-security-a-hard-sell.html Questions for discussion: Do you think this was a wise decision by Intel? Do… Read more »
digits: Oracle Takes Sweeping Shot at Google
 Description: Oracle Corp. has sued Google Inc. for patent and copyright infringement, on grounds that Google’s Android OS violates Java copyrights. The suit has sent shockwaves throughout Silicon Valley. WSJ’s Don Clark explains the possible implications of the suit to Simon Constable and Jennifer Valentino-DeVries. Also: are more TV shows and movies coming to the… Read more »
Learning to Milk a Profit
Description: Tired of working at Deloitte, an Iceland native dedicated himself to making yogurt Source: Businessweek.com  Date: 08/12/2010 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_34/b4192095592773.htm Questions for discussion: What were the common entrepreneurial characteristics in this report? What message about motivation and success can be derived from this story?
AOL Chief: Display ads not dead
Description: Chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong says display advertising will still be dominant, albeit different, in the coming years. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report  Date: 07/23/2010 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/07/23/f_bst_aol_armstrong_display.fortune/ Questions for discussion: Summarize the comments made by Tim Armstrong about the future of AOL, online content, and advertising. Do you agree with his opinions? How… Read more »
Amazon shares fall after earnings disappoint
Description: Online retail giant ramps up investments, sees continued spending Source: Marketwatch.com Date: 07/23/2010 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-falls-after-earnings-disappoint-2010-07-23?siteid=nwtwk  Questions for discussion: Summarize the financial conditions of Amazon? Would you be concerned as an investor or as a financial manager in the firm? What would you advise management?
