Cellphone Apps Challenge the Rise of E-Readers

Cellphone Apps Challenge the Rise of E-Readers

The IPhone now has an app for the Kindle ebook reader. Smart phone owners can now download this free app instead of buying the Kindle device for $250 or $350.

I just downloaded this app on my iphone last week. I thought it was too good to be true. I havent downloaded any ebooks on it yet because I havent had much time to explore it. Now that I have read this article I'm happy that I have this app. I plan on taking advantage of this feature and not having to pay for a ebook reader.

Burberry Looks Online for Ways to Gain Customers

Burberry Looks Online for Ways to Gain Customers

Burberry is adding a social networking site to its advertising. artofthetrench.com is a website where you can submit your photos of you wearing the Burberry trench coat.

Burberry wants to make sure that their legendary coat makes its transition into younger generations; ensuring them consumers in the future. Recently, Burberry has risen above their competitors in the struggling economy and they want to continue expansion. Burberry is active on other social networking sites such as: Twitter and Facebook, but so is the competition. This website is meant to give them a competitive edge and keep their iconic trench trendy.

I think this is a great move for Burberry. I like that they are trying to appeal to younger generations. They realize who their consumers are and they are trying to please them. I am a younger consumer and although, I am a fan of Burberry, I didn’t purchase their trench coat. I bought one of their bags and that’s what I thought their main product was. After reading the article, I learned that they get most of their revenue from trench coats. I always knew the Burberry trench was iconic, but I didn’t look at it as a trend of today. Whether it’s because I have lived in Florida most of my life and have never needed a coat, or because the trench was not marketed to my generation; I have not bought the Burberry trench coat. Although, I must say that if I ever need a coat, I would like a Burberry trench. I guess they have succeeded.

DVR, Once TV’s Mortal Foe, Helps Ratings

DVR, Once TV’s Mortal Foe, Helps Ratings

Everyone thought that DVR would be a commercial killer. Taking a look at ratings today; DVR has helped commercials. With growing numbers of people watching there shows on DVR; it is contributing to the ratings.
With the option of fast forwarding through the commercials while watching their recorded shows; why would anyone watch the commercials? The story says that the main reason is that watching TV is a passive activity and viewers are sitting through the commercials and raising ad revenue.
I think this is great because personally I felt bad for watching all of my favorite shows on DVR. I thought I was taking away from their rating that I think they deserve. Even though I do fast forward through the commercials, it’s comforting to know that they aren’t losing all their ad revenue.

A Place Where Sponsors Sign Athletes

A Place Where Sponsors Sign Athletes
Athletes make a lot of their money from endorsement deals, but now marketing companies have found an easier way to find the right player for the right price. Brand Affinity Technologies is a company that supplies sponsors with athletes. At their website you can show for the right endorser. The website showcases athletes that normally wouldn’t get recognized because they aren’t big name players like Lebron James and Tiger Woods. The company also offers a lower cost for the endorsements. Marketers don’t have to sign into a long contract with a big price tag anymore. They can also pick different endorsers for different areas that may appeal to those consumers.
I think this is a great idea and I think it couldn’t have come at a better time. With the economy trying to recover from the recession; companies are looking for a more affordable way to market their products. If I were an athlete or a sponsor I would use this company. I think it’s a win- win for both sides of the deal.

Disney’s Retail Plan Is a Theme Park in Its Stores

Disney’s Retail Plan Is a Theme Park in Its Stores

Disney is planning to spend millions of dollars to renovate their retail stores across the country. With the stores losing money and being sold off in 2002, Disney hopes to bring them back to life with this enormous change.
Most companies right now are running from the thought of taking a risk like this. Something like this has never been done before, but Disney has never been shy either.
These new renovations will use modern technology powered by Apple to create a play land beyond your wildest dreams. The story talks about artificial trees popping up from the floors and being able to book Disney cruise tickets from store kiosks. The story goes into detail about the changes and features the new stores will have. I really couldn’t believe some of the ideas. Like the hand held receipt printers the associates will carry on their aprons for convenient check out. I think that’s an awesome idea!
I don’t think anything Disney has ever done has really ever turned out badly. I think that these stores will enhance sales and do what they are projected to do. I think it’s a neat idea and I would like to visit one when they are finished.

Palin finishes memoir, 'Going Rogue,' out Nov. 17

Palin finishes memoir, 'Going Rogue,' out Nov. 17
Former Alaska Governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is releasing her memoir early. The book is fished only 4 months after announcing a book deal.
Personally, I liked Palin. I know a lot of people criticized her. I think a big reason why I liked her is because I am from Michigan and she talks with an accent like a lot of my family. I kind of had a soft spot for that.
I am interested to see how she wrote the book. With talks of her possibly running for the next election in 2012; I doubt that this going to be a juicy controversial book. I’m willing to bet that the biggest scandal out of this book is the fact that it’s releasing early.
Hopefully this book will bring some good limelight to her and help her in creating a political portfolio for the next election. I highly doubt this book is meant to do anything but help her.
Speaking of memoirs, if you looking for a juicy one then I’d probably read the South Carolina governors wife’s memoir. Her husband announced a year long affair with his "soul-mate" and now shes writing a memoir.

Rivals ask EU for action on Microsoft

Rivals ask EU for action on Microsoft

Google Inc. has joined other web browsers fighting with the European Union to make Microsoft Corp. provide a chance for new computer consumers to choose their main web browser. Microsoft currently has Internet Explorer as the default internet browser on new personal computers.
Google along with Firefox browser’s developers, Opera Software ASA and Mozilla Corp. want it to be easier for consumers to choose a different internet browser.
Microsoft has offered to put a ballot on Internet Explorer so the consumer can choose their personal browser.
Google and its fellow protestors think that putting a ballot on the default browser will not make a difference because Internet Explorer is already there.
In July, Microsoft accepted a demand from the EU that it provide a choice. Microsoft has already been fined so it is in its best interest to settle with the unhappy browsers.
I think this is a good idea. I didn’t know how to get a different internet browser on my personal computer until I took a computer class and my instructor showed me. I prefer a browser other than Internet Explorer but, for the longest time I didn’t know I had an option. Providing a choice would defiantly be in the best interest of the consumer.

Yahoo to spend $100M in bid for more brand buzz

Yahoo to spend $100M in bid for more brand buzz

According to Yahoo Inc, their achievements have been overlooked by investors and the media. Now they are taking action to compete with their competitor, Google.

Yahoo is spending more than $100 million on ads to get the word out to consumers.

Yahoo has been struggling in the shadow of Google. To get out of Google's shadow, they are marketing a new way of looking at your search engine. Yahoo is making themselves as more customized to their customer. One ad reads: "There's a new master of the digital universe. You.", said Boston.com.

I think that this is a good idea for Yahoo. But it kind of reminds me of the PC commercials that emphasize on your desktop being "you" to compete with Mac computers. Yahoo executives think that this ad campaign will reverse the "bad rap" that they have gotten. I don't think it can hurt them at all. This is a medium that Yahoo has no explored so, why not?

I personally have a Yahoo account and I have no complaints. I enjoy their homepage and email account. I hope that these ads do help them catch up to their Google Inc competitor. I believe in competition driving companies to produce the best product.I'm glad Google is keeping Yahoo on their toes.

Wall Street Journal mobile

Wall Street Journal Charging for mobile subscriptions

The Wall Street Journal is going to start charging for using it on your mobile devices. Unless you are a subscriber to both the print copy and the internet portion of the Journal, you have to pay for the mobile service.
Obviously, they are trying to gain revenue that they have been losing over time with less and less people subscribing to newspapers. The article said that the Wall Street Journal is one of the few papers to charge for internet subscriptions so, why not charge for mobile uses?
I can see both sides of this argument. First, I understand the papers need for revenue. On the other hand I don’t think as many readers are going to pay for these subscriptions when you can get other news journals online and on their mobile devices for free. I guess there is no harm in trying to sell some subscriptions.

Student must pay $675k for songs

I don't know how I feel about this story. I can see both sides of the argument (record label and student). The defending attorney made a good point when he said, this is a generation of kids who don't think downloading free music is wrong. I agree with this idea. I am a part of this generation of music pirates and I did not know that it was wrong until a year ago. I know many people that still don't think they can get in trouble for it.
On the other hand, I understand how this has had a crippling effect on the music industry. I agree that they should be paid for their work.
although, I think that this student was made into an example for the rest of the music pirates. I think the punishment was a little too harsh.
I do agree that the illegal pirating of music needs to stop but, I think that the record companies should be going after the people who are creating the "peer sharing" sites; not the individuals using the site.

Radio Canada

I've just discovered a new healthcare blog.

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Hello, World!