It’s been a while since I’ve talked about all the new technological products and innovations coming down the pipeline. As usual, it’s a busy part of the business world, especially when it comes to innovation.
Big news, Blu-Ray Disc is the new standard for HD-DVD. I know I’m dating myself here, but this was just like the VHS and Betamax wars a generation ago. I believe that when Blu-Ray compatibility was added to the Playstation® 3 (PS3) the war was finally won. That and the fact that Wal-Mart® (the ultimate 800 pound marketing gorilla) decided to stock their shelves with Blu-Ray DVDs as well.
On the music front, the iTunes® music store is now the number two seller of music, following Wal-Mart. As usual, it’s the teen audience leading the way. They would rather download their songs than drive down the road to buy them. What I still can’t figure out is why the music industry continues to fight iTunes so much. iTunes is directly responsible for the success of many musicians, who are playing on stage instead of flipping burgers for a living.
Add Google® (http://sites.google.com/) to your list of places to search the Internet. I loved writer Dan Farber’s thoughts about Google launches in a piece he did for cnet.com called “Google Sites: What’s all the fuss?” In which Farber compares the way people review and react to anything new from Google the same way movie and theater reviewers do. When you’re both a noun and a verb, you’re bound to attract attention whatever you do, or don’t do.
Microsoft Corp. is cutting the price of its Windows Vista® operating system, which retailed last year at $399 and is now available at $319. Microsoft wants more people to try it, and people should. If you do, make sure you try our Video Professor Learn Windows Vista® tutorial. We’ll take you step-by-step and prove to you that while Windows Vista may be new, it’s just as easy to operate if you just know how.
I’ve read numerous articles on how advertising dollars are spent on traditional media versus online advertising. It’s something we study all the time. I posted recently that while huge shares of politicians’ campaign money is being spent on television and radio this year, the best return on their investments remains the Net. E-Commerce is the future. It’s cheaper simply because it’s more efficient for both the consumer and the seller. Dollars spent aren’t the true measure, dollars earned are.
Just for fun fact: Check out this story .The folks at Philips Electronics installed a giant Imagination Light Station canvas for kids to play with at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers, Ark. This looks like great fun for some deserving kids and I do believe a few adults.
Finally, this decidedly non-tech item, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre announced this week he's retiring from football on the "frozen tundra." I know sports pundits and fans love to compare this player to that player and who was the best to ever play the game. None of that matters. Brett Favre was simply an exciting player, who played with a level of enthusiasm and professionalism seldom seen in professional sports, anywhere. His place in Canton is secured. He's won the Super Bowl, three consecutive MVP awards and has more wins than any QB in history. My Gosh, he had such fun playing the game and that made it fun for all of us. Heck, forget Canton, let's put him on Mount Rushmore!
Here’s a fun site to check out: www.bizonyms.com
See you next week.
-John
John W. Scherer
ceo@videoprofessor.com
John W. Scherer is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.
