Google Tablet with 3-D?

Google acquired BumpTop. This looks like another move by Google to acquire the functionality to take on Apple.



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This not only intensifies competition between Apple and Google.  I think it also pushes the frontier in terms of natural interfaces for engagement with content and applications.
Where is Microsoft? What will we see from Redmond?

The "Flash War": Apple versus Adobe

Over the last two months, there have been lots of discussions in various media about the role of Flash in devices such as Apple iPhone, iPad, mobile phones, netbooks and other devices.  With the introduction of Apple iPad earlier in April and the subsequent announcement about iPhone OS 4.0, this issue has been elevated to a higher level. 


Steve Jobs wrote a lengthy post on why Apple's decision is based on technical as opposed to business considerations.  He lays out six points and concludes by saying that:

Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.

Adobe refutes many of the points. Here's the CEO interview with WSJ. 



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Where do you come down on this debate?  What does it mean for Adobe? Apple? the developer community?  Can companies such as Google, Microsoft, Nokia and others seize upon this fight and jockey for advantage? 

Apple iPhone 4.0 Prototype Saga John Stewart Style: "Chill, baby"

This is funny, I think.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Appholes
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

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It's all in the details: Where do MSFT, Google and Apple Make their $$

These charts taken together tell a more complete story.

Apple

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Microsoft

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Google

Microsoft-Google-Apple: Observations on their future potential

Here's a video that provides additional information on the growth potential and challenges facing the three companies that we have discussed during the course. Take a look at it and offer your own comments and observations.

Towards 10 Billion--Apple iTunes

Apple seems to be closing in on another milestone--10 billion songs.

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Are you trying to be the lucky one?  Take a chance, try timing it!  Here's the link.

if Opera offers a faster browser on iPhone, Should (will) Apple Allow it?

Image via CrunchBase

Here's an intriguing move in the complex and dynamic world of jockeying for network advantage.  

Reuters is reporting that:

Norwegian browser company Opera Software said it would launch a version of its Mini browser for Apple's iPhone next week, offering faster download speeds.

Opera said the browser would offer consumers up to six times faster download speeds than Apple's own, and cut data traffic by up to 90 percent. Massive data traffic from iPhone mobile phones has caused problems for many operators networks.

Some analysts said Apple could try to stop rivals from access to iPhone as smooth Internet browsing has been a key feature behind the success of the iPhone.

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What should Apple do?  More importantly, what will Apple do?
 

Apple Versus Google: Beyond High-level Comparisons

We will examine the areas of competition and cooperation between Apple and Google on Wednesday. Here's a magazine article from Business Week that provides some relevant color commentary on this rivalry. Again, as we discussed in the class, the table 'Same but Different" is interesting at a general level but is not as insightful from a strategy point of view. There have been recent attempts to arrive at comparative analysis between Google and Apple (and in some cases involving other companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Yahoo and others). Here's a NY Times blog post focused on a 'big-picture' look. Again, I believe that the Table (reproduced below) is interesting at a general (popular) level but can be more insightful.

See how you can develop a comparative analysis that can bring out the subtle but significant areas of similarities and differences between Apple and Google from a strategy point of view.

Evolution of Apple's Architecture

Here is an interesting picture that shows how Apple is moving away from proprietary ports and connections on its products. I am posting it because it elaborates on our discussion in class today regarding Apple Firewire in iPod. It also shows the broader evolution in the personal computing architecture over time. The source blogpost for the picture is here.

Rivalry in the eBooks (iBooks!) market

There has been a lot of debate over where Apple ipad fits in. However the publishers surely know where it fits in as implied by revolt of Macmillan. Excerpts from the article:

Just days after the wraps were taken off the iPad, Macmillan informed Amazon it wanted to begin charging between 12.99 and 14.99 dollars for e-book versions of most hardcover new releases and bestsellers.

Some interesting points worth debating:

1. Apple complained about Google entering its core market with Android. Google CEO Eric Schmidt's resignation from Apple board and Steve Jobs statement elucidates increase in rivalry. It seems with iBooks from Apple, Google vs Apple rivalry will dominate the Google vs Microsoft rivalry.

2. It remains to be seen if Google and Amazon will partner forgetting earlier rivalry considering Apple is attracting a lot of publishers.

3. Last but not the least, in a two sided network, there is a subsidy side. With the publishers like Macmillan revolting and demanding higher price for their titles, it remains to be seen how Amazon walks the tightrope of not annoying Kindle users (A reader will not like to pay $14.99 when he is used to pay $9.99 for an ebook).