Gordon Bell,, a reseracher at Microsoft is working on a "digital diary, a searchable database that contains digitized versions of nearly everything in his life." The diary will be stored on a blackberry like device that he carries with him at all times and will help him recall everything from events to conversations that he's experienced.

The article Digital age may bring total recall in future is from the tech section of CNN.com.

The article New technology could end DVD format war was posted on Cnet this afternoon.

The article talks about how the British company New Medium Enterprises has figured out a way to produce a multiple-layer DVD containing both the Blue-Ray and HD-DVD version of a movie. There are two primary advantages to this:
1. Cost. It currently costs $.06 to produce a single layer DVD. Using NME's technology, the cost to produce a multiple layer DVD (they've successfully tested 10 layers thus far) is only $.09.
2. Compatibility. Consumers can purchase one copy of a movie that contains both formats, meaning that their movie library will not be obsolete depending on which format wins out.

Starbucks is expanding into different markets...

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2006-05-18-starbucks-usat_x.htm

Mergers are in fashion.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/2006-05-09-merger-usat_x.htm



Interested in how many U.S. searches Google has per day? See link below.

http://searchenginewatch.com/reports/article.php/34701_2156461

I'm sorry to be away from class tonight, so here is my snippette.

Given our discussion of the ethics around protecting identity and dealing with confidential information, I thought this joint project announcement was interesting. Further, the optimization of the US healthcare system via electronic data is a movement that I think we will hear a lot more about in the coming years. The article is from the Small Business Times.

Tosa company launches joint project with Sun Microsystems

Wauwatosa-based TeraMedica today announced it has formed a joint solution with Santa Clara, Calif.-based Sun Microsystems Inc. to create a system that enables health caregivers to securely share patient-centric digital content, including medical images, electronically over a network.TeraMedica's Evercore solution, running on the Sun Java Composite Application Platform Suite, allows physicians to attach medical images such as X-rays and MRI scans, as well as other clinical digital content, to a patient's existing electronic health record (EHR) and then easily access them from the desktop. By providing caregivers with timely access to relevant patient information, the joint solution can ultimately help improve patient safety and care, increase efficiency and reduce costs.Customers currently using or testing the Evercore on Sun solution include the Mayo Clinic, ProHealth Care in Waukesha and the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin."A picture is worth a thousand words, and TeraMedica puts the picture into the patient view, creating a single point of access for all electronic health information, both data and images," said Wayne Owens, vice president of healthcare integration platforms at Sun Microsystems."TeraMedica's Evercore technology complements Sun's healthcare solutions by enabling access to medical images and other clinical digital content via a patient's existing electronic health record," said Jim Prekop, president and chief executive officer of TeraMedica, which is based at 10400 Innovation Drive. "By allowing caregivers to easily view and share medical data, together Sun and TeraMedica can help raise the standard of medical care."

"....Chance favors only the prepared mind" -Louis Pasteur

This is an interesting article that discusses options to the annual strategic planning session which is typically found to be less valuable than planned. The authors suggest a real-time approach to strategy making. One of the keys is encouraging creative minds. Companies like Capital One do this by allowing executives to create strategy by experimentation.


http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/article_page.aspx?ar=1191&L2=21&L3=37

We've talked about Google competing with a number of companies in several areas.

This article: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/01/technology/01google.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

focuses on Microsoft's new browser, Windows Vista, and the way this browser directs people to MSN's search tool. Google asserts that it positions Microsoft to unfairly divert web traffic (and advertising dollars) from other competitors.

Two things in this article were of interest to me:

1. Google is increasing their lobbying efforts. They are no longer a "thorn-in-the-flesh," of the larger companies, but a significant contender in their own right.

2. It talks about the alliances built in this competitive marketplace (e.g., Google and Firefox) and the dynamic between software and hardware companies; particularly, the choice of software to load on their computers.

Breaking the rules on pizza delivery. Will Papa John's 10-minute pizza bring them to number one?

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2006-04-24-fast-pizza-usat_x.htm

Question: If you order pizza when you are camping, is it really camping?

-Adam

Snippet from CNN Money about how large media firms are acquiring video game companies and gaming websites in an effort to attract new customers and as a potential new channel for advertising.

Big media: Time to play games

Interesting article about CEO of Sun, Scott McNealy, stepping down. We talked in class about Sun potentially being the biggest threat to IBM, but now this is the fourth Sun executive to either resign or retire in the past two months.

The article, McNealy steps down at Sun, is from cnet.com

Here's a snippette on Honda and their Civic that runs on natural gas...

http://reviews.cnet.com/4531-10921_7-6490981.html?tag=blog

Here is another Apple snippette... Apple has release a new version of their remote desktop manages networked MAC OS X systems. The new version is designed to work with Intel based MACs.

http://www.forbes.com/business/businesstech/2006/04/11/apple-remote-desktop-0411markets15.html

"Google Calendar"

Here is another Google snippet.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2006-04-12-google-calendar_x.htm

Sorry, the link in my last post didn't work. Here's a working link.
Protective parents: Gold for cellular services?

Disney to offer new cell phone service for kids, but with features aimed at protective parents, such as GPS to follow child's location and the ability to monitor voice and text messages.
Protective parents: Gold for cellular services?

The following link discusses a new possible strategy for Google and how you search for information.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/11/technology/google_search/index.htm

"The Forgotten Strategy"

If you are interested in global strategy you might want to check out the article " The Forgotten Strategy" by Pankaj Ghemawat. See link below. I came across this when I was doing research on the strategies used by CEMEX. They place a very high value on information technology and international knowledge workers. Based on their stock chart, NYSE: CX, I would say their strategy is a success.

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=cache:0SPakRWfYLwJ:www.farrell-associates.com.au/Ops%2520Mgmt/Forgotten%2520Strategy.pdf+cemex+strategy

Hello Class.

I started a new blog for my posts. I thought it would be a good way to get rid of the piles of magazines I have at home.

Feel free to visit and comment as well as to this Blog.

The URL is www.geneawright.com

Gene A. Wright

Interesting article on e-waste from businessweek.com - HP Wants Your Old PCs Back. I found the section towards the bottom, which discusses Apple's pushback to such recycling programs and the impact it's had on the company's "progressive" image.

Found and article on CNet.com discussing the future of WiFi and cellular networks. The article is titled The skinny on CTIA Wireless 2006.

There's a section of the story that I found particularly relevant after last weeks class titled "A WiMax Combination," which discusses how some larger companies (ie. Intel and Motorola) are working together to lead in the push of these new technologies.